I lli-l i '
Jane Austen’s
LETTERS
to her sister Cassandra
and others
Jane Austen’s
LETTERS
to her sister Cassandra
and others
COLLECTED AND EDITED
by
R. W. CHAPMAN
SECOND EDITION
GEOFFREY CUMBERLEGE
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
London New York Toronto
1952
Oxford University Press, Amen House , London E.C. 4
GLASGOW NEW YORK TORONTO MELBOURNE WELLINGTON
BOMBAY CALCUTTA MADRAS CAPE TOWN
Geoffrey Cumberlege, Publisher to the University
First published 1932
Second edition 1952
' t
mX
ALLAMA IQBAL LIBRARY
mt uti* 111,1 .... w, '“r% I
12780
PREFACE
T HE extant letters of Jane Austen have not hitherto
been collected. The majority of them are of two
groups: those to which James Edward Austen-Leigh
had access in compiling his Memoir of his aunt 1 — they
had been preserved in his own branch of the family or
by the daughters of Charles Austen ; and those which
were inherited by the first Lord Brabourne from his
mother, Jane Austen’s niece Fanny Knight (Lady
Knatchbull), and published by him . 2 Mr. Austen-
Leigh printed a part only of the letters which were at
his disposal. Lord Brabourne’s edition is substantially
complete; but he omitted certain passages and sup-
pressed some names. A third group of letters, those
to Francis Austen, were first published by Mr. and
Miss Hubback in J one Austen’s Sailor Brothers . 8
The late William Austen-Leigh and Mr. R. A,
Austen-Leigh in compiling their Life and Letters oj
J ane Austen 4 had access to the .originals of many of
these letters, and also to unpublished letters or parts
of letters from the same sources. But it was no part
of their plan to edit the letters as a whole. Almost
every extant letter is quoted by them, but relatively
few are given entire.
There is thus still room for an edition of the letters ;
and the present edition, so far as concerns the letters
hitherto recorded, is tolerably well based. I have seen
either- the originals, or recent and trustworthy copies,
1 1870.; ^second edition 1871. a 1884. * 1906.
* 1913 ; sedond edition 1918 ; now out of print.
(V)
Preface
of all the letters of which the ownership is stated in
my list. Unfortunately the letters to Cassandra edited
by Lord Braboume were dispersed many years ago;
and some thirty of these I have failed to trace. I have
little doubt that they are in the hands of private
collectors; and the publication of this edition will
probably reveal some of their hiding-places.
There is, however, no reason to suspect that Lord
Braboume’s text is seriously corrupt. He sent the
originals to the printer, and the printer had little
excuse for misreading Jane Austen’s hand.
It is not very likely that any considerable hoard of
Jane Austen’s letters will hereafter come to light.
There is no hope of any more to Cassandra; for it is
known that she destroyed many, and those which she
kept passed to her nieces and have been published.
I long cherished hopes of letters to her brother Henry,
to whom she is more likely to have revealed literary
secrets than to any other correspondent; but I have
seen a letter written to J. E. Austen-Leigh by his half-
sister, in which it is stated that ‘no letters to Uncle
Henry have been kept ’.
It is improbable that any more letters are preserved
m the family . 1 There is more hope of letters addressed
to cousins or acquaintances, such as those numbered
8, 145, and 148.
My first duty has been to secure accurate texts of
all letters of which I was able to examine the originals.
But the letter (74.1) to Martha Llovd sold in t non « j
dant of her husband Sir Francis Austen 193 ° b £. a descen *
of the Life. Austen, was unknown to the authors
Preface
To those who are familiar with the letters it will be
apparent that I have been able to do a good deal in
addition and correction, as well as in the restoration
of Jane Austen’s spelling and punctuation. I have not
thought it necessary to record my improvements ; I be-
lieve I am justified in saying that all divergences from
my predecessors have been verified and may be trusted.
Another duty could not be evaded, though its per-
formance is difficult, and often involves a choice of
evils. There is an element of solemn absurdity in any
commentary on familiar letters such as these. Yet
Lord Braboume was right in saying that they cannot
be understood, or fully enjoyed, without some know-
ledge of the many hundreds of persons to whom they
make familiar allusion. Lord Brabourne’s solution was
to furnish discursive introductions to the letters as a
whole and to their several sections. There is much to
be said for this method, but I did not feel that it was
open to me. Nor have I felt able to print brief notes
on the same pages as the text. This has the advantage
of conveying information rapidly and easily to those
who want it ; but it has the grave disadvantage that it
obtrudes such information upon those who resent it.
I hope it will be thought that my solution of these
difficulties is not unsatisfactory. In the notes ap-
pended to each volume I give summary identifications
of any persons who are ambiguously mentioned in the
text . 1 In my indexes (which no one will or can read)
1 See the note prefixed to the notes on vol. i, which helps the
reader to distinguish the commonest Christian names.
(vii)
Preface
I set out the relationships of the various families, and
give somewhat full particulars (when I could get them)
of all persons, however obscure or unimportant, who
are mentioned in the letters. To those who may think
these indexes absurdly and pedantically elaborate,
probably no excuses are worth offering ; to those who
welcome them I confess myself aware that with more
leisure and industry, or with a better command of the
sources of information, they might have been made
more accurate and less incomplete,
t
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION
nnHE text of this edition is little altered except by
-L the addition of the letters printed at the end and
numbered 78.1 (a notable accession of knowledge),
122.1, 141.1, and 149. Since my text was first printed I
have had access to the originals of 2, 10, 39. 58 63 72
w* Ml 88, 92, 96, 97, 111, 114, 123. Th«e hLvejSdld
a few more additions (in 10 and 82) and slight verbal
corrections. It did not seem worth while to sacrifice
the plates of many pages merely to restore Jane
Austen’s spelling and punctuation, which are ade-
quately represented by the text as a whole.
I have left my list of acknowledgements as it stood
in 1932. I now add my thanks to those friends and
correspondents who have furnished additions or cor-
rections in the notes and indexes : especially to Miss A. L.
Tallmadge of Evanston and Mrs. Henry G. Burke of
Baltimore.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
For the use of original letters and other manuscripts I am
indebted to the descendants of Jane Austen’s brothers —
Miss Isabel Lefroy, Mr. E. C. Austen-Leigh, Mr. R. A,
Austen-Leigh, Mr. L. A. Austen-Leigh and his co-heirs, Lord
Brabourne, Captain Ernest Austen, R.N., Mrs. Spanton,
the late Miss Jane Austen, Miss Florence Austen — and to
the following: Dr. J. Pierpont Morgan, Mr. R. B. Adam,
the Rev. R. G. Binnall, Mr. Oliver R. Barrett, Lady
Charnwood, the late Cleveland H. Dodge, Mrs. M. A. De
Wolfe Howe, Sir Alfred Law, the late Miss Amy Lowell,
Mr. H. V. Marrot, Mr. Harold Murdock, Sir John Murray,
Miss A. L. Sillar, Miss Anne Tucker.
Messrs. Maggs, and Messrs. Sessler of Philadelphia, have
helped me to trace letters recorded in auction sale catalogues.
My chief obligation is to Mr. Richard Austen-Leigh, with-
out whose sanction this edition would not have been under-
taken, and without whose help it could hardly have been
carried through. He placed at my disposal many family
manuscripts which throw light on the letters, and many
notes of his own, and throughout gave me the full benefit of
his unrivalled knowledge of Jane Austen’s life and sur-
roundings.
The late J. W. Horrocks had a wide knowledge of family
history in Hampshire and especially in Southampton ; almost
all my information on the Southampton period is due to him.
Mr. R. H. New and Mr. F. Page have been assiduous in
the search for minute particulars in the Bodleian and
British Museum.
I am further indebted for occasional assistance to a very
large number of persons. The list which follows is long,
but I am afraid it is not complete : Rev. L. Brooke Barnett,
Rector of Ashe; Mr. E. G. Bayford; Mr. C. F. Bell;
Mr. W. M. Bevan; the Rev. S. G. Brade-Birks, Vicar of
Godmersham ; the Rev. Canon E. Brook-Jackson ; Dame
Georgiana Buller ; Prof. Geoffrey Callender ; Mr. Herbert
(ix)
A cknowledgements
Chitty ; Mr. J . H. Coltart ; Mr. Davidson Cook ; Mr. W. H.
Curtis of Alton ; members of the de Bary family ; Miss M.
Hope Dodds ; the Hon. Mrs. Dudley-Ryder, formerly of
26 Hans Place; Mr. Ralph Edwards; the late Lord Fitz-
walter, of Goodnestone, the Hon Sir John Fortescue ; Sir
William Foster; Mr. J. C. B. Gamlen ; Miss Belle da Costa
Greene ; Mr. F. H. H. Guillemarde ; Mr. D. W. Herdman,
Fublic Librarian at Cheltenham ; Mr. E. V. Hewkin of the
G.P.O.; Mr. Ellice Hicks Beach; Mr. C. B. Hogan; Mr.
Archibald Jacob; the Rev. J. L. Beaumont; Mr. Hilary
Jenkinson ; Mr. Walter Johnson ; the late Lord Kilbracken ;
the Hon. Michael Knatchbull ; the late Colonel Lionel
Knight and Mrs. Knight of Chawton ; Mrs. Montagu Knight •
Mrs. Koch and Miss Tallmadge, of Evanston, Illinois f the
Marquis of Lansdowne ; Viscountess Lewisham, of Godmer-
sham Park ; Mr. D. M. Low ; Mr. Justice MacKinnon ; Mr
Edward Marsh ; Mr. H. T. Mead, Librarian at Canterbury ;’
Morrell, Mr. James Morrell, and Mr. A. H. M.
orrell ; Mr. A. H. Hallam Murray ; Mrs. Norsworthy ; Sir
C b T ‘ ° nions ; Mr - R - H - Paranjpye;
the late Sir William Portal, Miss Evelyn Portal of Free-
mantle, and Mr. E. R. Portal of Hardenhuish ; Mr. L. F.
T 7' }?' Powe ^ and Mr - Austin Poole, of St
^ C t ge n°w Xf0 ; d L Sir D ’ Arcy Power; ms - Horatia
Powlett; Mr. P. E. Roberts; Mr. S. C. Roberts; Mr. W.
Roberts ; Sir Humphry Rolleston; Mr. Michael Sadleir •
^ ? e . V ’ £*• M ' SaImon ’ R ector of Streatham ; Lord Saye
and Sele; Mj SS j ean Smith; Mr. A. H. Stenning; Mrs. C. G.
_ u-ling; Miss C. Lmklater Thomson ; Dr. G. M. Trevelyan •
the late Dr Paget Toynbee ; Prof. G. S. Veitch ; Mr. c’
Wanklyn of Lyme Regis ; Mr. F. D. Wardle, of Messrs.
A if n a w WardIe » 13 Queen Square, Bath; Sir
formerly of ’ S Whibley ; Mr. J. S. Wfflkm son>
Mr R y w M wT. n“ l ' MiSS E ' ;
r. K. W. M. Wright, Director of the Bath Libraries •
officials of the Public Record Office and of Somerset House!
( x )
CONTENTS
PREFACE
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION .
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
LIST OF LETTERS .
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS .
AUTHORITIES .
INTRODUCTION .
))
vin
ix
? ?
S J
XVII
XXXV
xxxvii
xxxix
LETTERS Pages 1-515
1796
NOS.
J anuary, F rom Steventon to Cassandra at Kintbury 1~2
August From Cork Street to Cassandra . . 8
September . From Rowling to Cassandra at Steventon 4-7
m 8
April . From Steventon to Philadelphia Walter . 8
October. From Dartford to Cassandra at Godmer-
sham ....... 9
October-December. From Steventon to Cassandra at
Godmersham ..... 10-16
1799
January. From Steventon to Cassandra at God-
mersham ..... 17-18
May-June. From 18 Queen Square, Bath, to Cas-
sandra at Steventon .... 19-22
(xi)
Contents
NOS,
l800
October-November. From Steventon to Cassandra at
Godmersham ..... 23-25, 27
November . From Steventon to Martha Lloyd at
Ibthrop. ...... 26
From Ibthrop to Cassandra at Godmersham 28
1801
January , From Steventon to Cassandra at God-
mersham ..... 29-38
February . From Manydown to Cassandra in Berkeley
Street . . . . . . . 34
May . From Paragon, Bath, to Cassandra at Ibthrop
and Kintbury ..... 85-88
1804
September . From Lyme to Cassandra at Ibthrop , 39
1805
January . From Green Park Buildings, Bath, to
Francis Austen, H.M.S. Leopard . . 40-42
April , From 25 Gay Street, Bath, to Cassandra at
Ibthrop ..... 43-44
August From Godmersham to Cassandra at
Goodnestone ...... 45
From Goodnestone to Cassandra at God-
mersham ..... 46-47
180J
J anuary-February . From Southampton to Cas-
sandra at Godmersham . . . 48-50
1808
June . From Godmersham to Cassandra at Castle
Square, Southampton . . . 51-54
October-December. From Castle Square, Southamp-
ton, to Cassandra at Godmersham . . 55-62
(xii)
Contents
NOS.
NOS.
' 1809
January. From Castle Square, Southampton, to
Cassandra at Godmersham . . • 63-60
April. From Castle Square, Southampton, to Messrs.
Crosbie in London . . . • .67
July. From Chawton to Francis Austen . • 68
1811
April. From Sloane Street to Cassandra at God-
mersham ..... 69-71
May-June. From Chawton to Cassandra at God-
mersham ..... 72-74
1812
November. From Chawton to Martha Lloyd at
Barton 1 ...... 74.1
1813
January-February. From Chawton to Cassandra at
Steventon and Manydown ... 7 5-7 8
February. From Chawton to Martha Lloyd 2 . 78.1
May. From Sloane Street to Cassandra at Chawton 79-80
July. From Chawton to Francis Austen in the Baltic 81
September. From 10 Henrietta Street to Cassandra
at Chawton ..... 82-83
September. From Godmersham to Francis Austen in
the Baltic . . • • - .85
September-October. From Godmersham to Cassandra
at Chawton . . • • .84, 86-87
October-N ovember . From Godmersham to Cassandra
at 10 Henrietta Street . . • 88-91
( xiii )
1 See p. 499.
2 See p. 503.
Contents
NOS.
1814
March. From 10 Henrietta Street to Cassandra at
Chawton ..... 92—94
May or June . From Chawton to Anna Austen at
Steventon . . . . . .95
June . From Chawton to Cassandra at 10 Henrietta
Street ...... 96-97
August. From Chawton to Anna Austen at Steventon 98
From 23 Hans Place to Cassandra at
Chawton ...... 99
September . From Chawton to Anna Austen at
Steventon ..... 100-102
November . From Chawton to Fanny Knight at
Goodnestone ...... 103
From Chawton to Anna Lefroy at Hendon 104
November —December. From 23 Hans Place to Anna
Lefroy at Hendon .... 105, 107
November . From 23 Hans Place to Fanny Knight
at Godmersham ...... 106
From Chawton to Anna Lefroy at
Hendon ...... 108
November or December . From 23 Hans Place to Anna
Lefroy at Hendon ..... 109
1815
September . From Chawton to Anna Lefroy at Wyards 110
October-December . From 23 Hans Place to Cassandra
at Chawton . . . . Ill, 116-118
From 23 Hans Place to Caroline
Austen at Steventon . . . . 112, 119
( xiv )
Contents
NOS.
N ovember-December . From 23 Ilans Place to J. S.
Clarke at Carlton House . . . H3, 120
From 23 Hans Place to John
Murray . H4> 115, 121i 122
December. To Charles Thomas Haden 1 . 122.1
To Lady Morley .... 123
To Anna Lefroy .
1816
March, April, July. From Chawton to Caroline
Austen at Steventon. . . 125, 128, 128.1, 131
April. From Chawton to J. S. Clarke . . 126
From Chawton to John Murray . . 127
June and ?. From Chawton to Anna Lefroy 129, 135
July and December. From Chawton to Edward
Austen at Steventon . 130, 184
September. From Chawton to Cassandra at Chelten-
ham ....•• 13^> 133
l8lj
January. From Chawton to Cassandra, daughter of
Charles Austen, at 22 Keppel Street . . 136
J anuary— March. From Chawton to Caroline Austen
at Steventon . 137, 138, 143
January. From Chawton to Alethea Bigg at
Streatham ...••• 13®
February-March. From Chawton to Fanny Knight
at Godmersham . 140-142
March. From Chawton to Caroline Austen 2 . 141.1
April. From Chawton to Charles Austen at 22 Kep-
pel Street . . ■ • • .144
May. From Chawton to Anne Sharp at Doncaster . 145
From College Street, Winchester, to Edward
Austen at Oxford . 146
1 See p. 610. a See P- 511<
( XV )
b
NOS.
Contents
From College Street to an unknown corre-
spondent . . . * . 147
n*d. To Catherine Ann Prowting * . . 148
n.d. To Caroline Austen? 1 . 149
ADDENDA Page 499
APPENDIX
1 . Letters from Cassandra Austen to Fanny Knight
after Jane Austen’s death . . Page 509
2. Jane Austen’s Will . . . „ 515
NOTES
INDEXES
I. Jane Austen’s Family
II. Other Persons (with Addenda)
III. Places
IV. General Topics
V, Authors, Books, Plays
VI. Jane Austen’s Novels
VII. Jane Austen’s English
VIII. Names of Ships
1 See p. 512.
(xvi)
LIST OF LETTERS
This list shows the ownership, &c., of the originals, or, if
these are untraced, the best authority for the text.
The ownership of some of the letters has been dis-
covered, or has altered, since the text was printed off;
this list gives the latest state of my information. In
particular, Letters 2 and 82 have been traced and col-
lated; for additions and corrections to these letters, see
the notes.
At the eleventh hour, indeed a little later, I am indebted
to Mrs. R. M. Mowll, a descendant of Sir Francis Austen,
for the privilege of publishing Jane Austen’s letter to
Martha Lloyd of 2 Sept. 1814. See page 506. It was not
practicable to include this interesting document in the
indexes.
( xvii )
I
List of Letters
NO.
RECIPIENT,
PLACE.
DATE.
1
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Sat. 9 Jan. <1796>
2
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Thurs.<14> Jan. <1796>
3
Cassandra Austen
Cork Street
Tues. <Aug. 1796>
4
Cassandra Austen
Rowling
Thurs. 1 Sept. <1796>
5
Cassandra Austen
Rowling
Mon. 5 Sept. <1796>
6
Cassandra Austen
Rowling
Thurs. 15 Sept. 1796
7
Cassandra Austen
Rowling
Sun. 18 Sept. 1796
3
? Philadelphia
Walter
Steventon
Sun. 8 Apr. <1798>
f
9
Cassandra Austen
Bull and George,
Dartford
Wed. 24 Oct. <1798>
10
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Sat. 27 Oct. <1798>
11
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Sat. 17 Nov. 1798
12
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Sun. 25 Nov. <1798>
13
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
<Sat.> 1 Dec. <1798>
14
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Tues. 18 Dec. 1798
15
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Mon. 24 Dec. <1798>
16
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Fri. 28 Dec. <1798>
17
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Tues. 8 Jan. <1799>
18
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Mon. 21 Jan. <1799>
19
Cassandra Austen
13 Queen Square
Fri. 17 May <1799>
20
Cassandra Austen
13 Queen Square
Sun. 2 June <1799>
21
Cassandra Austen
13 Queen Square
Tues. 11 June <1799>
22
Cassandra Austen
13 Queen Square
Wed. 19 June <1799>
( xviii )
List
ORIGINAL.
• • • • • •
Sir Alfred Law
i
Facsimile in O. F. Adams
i • * * « •
Harold Murdock
Pierpont Morgan Library
Pierpont Morgan Library
of Letters
PREVIOUS PUBLICATION
(WHOLE OR part).
Brabournc I 125 ; Life 87, 98.
Brabourne I 130; Life 88, 99.
Brabourne I 133 ; Life 99.
Brabourne I 134 ; Life 100.
Brabourne 1 138 ; Life 101.
Brabourne I 141 ; Life 102.
Brabourne I 146 ; Life 103.
Rev. R. G. Binnall
Not published.
♦ m • • « »
Brabourne I 153 ;
Life 109.
Mrs. Raymond Hartz
Brabourne I 156 ;
Life 111.
• t i « i »
Brabourne I 162 ;
Life 84, 113.
• • • • • 1
Brabourne I 167 ;
Life 113,
• * « 1 * •
Brabourne I 171 ;
Life 115.
Pierpont Morgan Library
Brabourne I 176 ;
Life 110.
• • • * * •
Brabourne I 182 ;
Life 118.
Oliver R. Barrett
Brabourne I 190 ;
Life 121.
• « * • * i
Brabourne 1 191 ;
Life 122.
[Sotheby Catalogue May 1891]
Brabourne I 198 ;
Life 124.
• * t * * *
Brabourne I 206 ;
Life 127.
Pierpont Morgan Library
Brabourne I 211 ;
Life 129.
* # * * * *
Brabourne I 215 ;
Life 130.
Pierpont Morgan Library
Brabourne I 220 ;
Life 131.
( xix )
List of Letters
NO*
RECIPIENT*
PLACE.
DATE.
23
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Sat. 25 Oct. 1800
24
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Sat. 1 Nov. 1800
25
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Sat. 8 Nov. 1800
26
Martha Lloyd
Steventon
Wed. 12 Nov. <1800>
27
Cassandra Austen
Steventon '
Thurs. 20 Nov. 1800
28
Cassandra Austen
Ibthrop
Sun. 30 Nov. 1800
29
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Sat. 3 Jan. 1801
30
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Thurs. 8 Jan. 1801
31
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Wed. 14 Jan. <1801 >
32
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Wed. 21 Jan. 1801
33
Cassandra Austen
Steventon
Sun. 25 Jan. <1801>
34
Cassandra Austen
Manydown
Wed. 11 Feb. 1801
35
Cassandra Austen
Paragon
Tues. 5 May <1801>
36
Cassandra Austen
Paragon
Tues. 12 May <1801>
37
Cassandra Austen
Paragon
Thurs. 21 May <1801 >
38
Cassandra Austen
Paragon
Tues. 26 May <1801 >
39 Cassandra Austen Lyme
Fri. 14 Sept. <1804>
*
t
(XX)
List
ORIGINAL.
Pierpont Morgan Library
Pierpont Morgan Library
L. A. Austen-Leigh
Mrs. M. A. De Wolfe Howe
Pierpont Morgan Library
L. A. Austen-Leigh
Pierpont Morgan Library
Pierpont Morgan Library
Pierpont Morgan Library
Pierpont Morgan Library
t * * * + •
British Museum
• * * * * *
Pierpont Morgan Library
Pierpont Morgan Library
Charles B. Hogan
of Letters
PREVIOUS PUBLICATION
(WHOLE OR PART).
Brabourne I 230 ; Life 141.
Brabourne I 235 ; Life 143.
Memoir 2 58 ; Life 145.
Memoir 2 61 ; Life 148.
Brabourne I 241 ; Life 150.
Life 153.
Brabourne I 248 ; Life 156.
Brabourne I 255 ; Life 158.
Brabourne I 261 ; Life 150.
Brabourne I 266 ; Life 161.
Brabourne I 272 ; Life 162.
Memoir 1 81, Memoir 2 64 ; Life
163.
Brabourne I 278 ; Life 165.
Brabourne I 284 ; Life 166.
Brabourne I 289 ; Life 168.
Memoir 1 83, Memoir 3 65 ; Life
169.
Memoir 1 89, Memoir 2 68 ; Life
177.
( xx * )
Sotheby 3 May 1948
List of Letters
NO.
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
RECIPIENT.
Francis Austen
Francis Austen
Francis Austen
Cassandra Austen
Cassandra Austen
Cassandra Austen
Cassandra Austen
Cassandra Austen
PLACE.
Green Park
Buildings
Do.
Do.
25 Gay Street
Gay Street
Godmersham
Goodnestone
Goodnestone
DATE.
Mon. 21 Jan. 1805
Tues. 22 Jan, <1805>
Tues. 29 Jan. <1805>
Mon. 8 Apr. <1805>
Sun. 21 Apr. <1805>
Sat, 24 Aug. <1805>
Tues. 27 Aug. <1805>
Fri. 30 Aug. <1805>
48
Cassandra Austen
Southampton
Wed. 7 Jan. <1807>
49
Cassandra Austen
Southampton
<Sun.> 8 Feb. <1807>
50
Cassandra Austen
Southampton
Fri. 20 Feb. 1807
51
Cassandra Austen
Godmersham
Wed. 15 June <1808>
52
Cassandra Austen
Godmersham
Mon. 20 June 1808
53
Cassandra Austen
Godmersham
Sun. 26 June 1808
54
Cassandra Austen
Godmersham
Thurs. 30 June 1808
55
Cassandra Austen
Castle Square
Sat. 1 Oct. 1808
56
Cassandra Austen
Castle Square
Fri. 7 Oct. 1808
57
Cassandra Austen
Castle Square
<Thurs.> 13 Oct. 1808
58
Cassandra Austen
Castle Square
Sat. 15 Oct. <1808>
59
Cassandra Austen
Castle Square
Mon. 24 Oct. <1808>
60
Cassandra Austen
Castle Square
Sun. 21 Nov. <1808>
61
Cassandra Austen
Castle Square
Fri. 9 Dec. 1808
62
Cassandra Austen
Castle Square
( xxii )
Tues. 27 Dec. <1808>
List of Letters
ORIGIN AIi*
British Museum
PREVIOUS PUBLICATION
(WHOLE OR PART).
Sailor Brothers 115; Life 181.
British Museum
Sailor Brothers 116 ; Life 180.
British Museum
Sailor Brothers 129.
L. A. Austen-Leigh
Jerome Kern (1927)
Harvard College Library
Memoir 1 70 ; Life 183.
Memoir 1 93, Memoir a 74; Life 185.
Brabourne I 298 ; Life 189.
Brabourne I 303 ; Life 190.
• • * * • •
Brabourne I 307 ; Life 191.
* • * * * i
Brabourne I 312 ; Life 198.
Pierpont Morgan Library
Brabourne I 320 ; Life 199.
R. B. Adam
Brabourne I 329 ; Life 201.
* • • « • *
Brabourne I 341 ; Life 204.
Pierpont Morgan Library
Brabourne I 350 ; Life 206.
Pierpont Morgan Library
V
Brabourne I 358 ; Life 207.
Pierpont Morgan Library
Brabourne I 366 ; Life 207.
Pierpont Morgan Library
Brabourne II 4 ; Life 210.
Pierpont Morgan Library
Brabourne II 11 ; Life 212.
Pierpont Morgan Library
Brabourne II 18 ; Life 213.
Hist. Soc. of Pennsylvania Brabourne II 21 ; Life 214.
• • • • . . Brabourne II 25 ; Life 216.
Pierpont Morgan Library
Brabourne II 32 ; Life 219.
Pierpont Morgan Library
Brabourne II 38 ; Life 221.
Brabourne II 46 ; Life 223.
( xxiii )
• •
• *
List of Letters
NO.
RECIPIENT.
PLACE.
DATE.
63
Cassandra Austen
Castle Square
Tues. 10 Jan. <1809>
64
Cassandra Austen
Castle Square
Tues. 17 Jan. 1809
65
Cassandra Austen
Castle Square
Tues. 24 Jan. 1809
66
Cassandra Austen
Castle Square
Mon. 30 Jan, 1809
67
Crosbie & Co.
Southampton
<Wed.> 5 Apr. 1809
68
Francis Austen
Chawton
<Wed.> 26 July 1809
69
Cassandra Austen
Sloane Street
Thurs. 18 Apr. 1811
70
Cassandra Austen
Sloane Street
Thurs. 25 Apr. 1811 ?
71
Cassandra Austen
Sloane Street
Tues. <30 Apr. 1811>
72
Cassandra Austen
Chawton
Wed. 29 May <1811>
73
Cassandra Austen
Chawton
Fri. 31 May 1811
74
Cassandra Austen
Chawton
Thurs. 6 June 1811
74.1
Martha Lloyd
Chawton
Sun. 29 Nov. <1812>
75
Cassandra Austen
Chawton
Sun. 24 Jan. <1813>
76
Cassandra Austen
Chawton
Fri. 29 Jan. <1813)
77
Cassandra Austen
Chawton
Thurs. 4 Feb. (1813)
78
Cassandra Austen
Chawton
Tues. 9 Feb. <1813>
78.1
79
80
Martha Lloyd
Cassandra Austen
Cassandra Austen
Chawton
Sloane Street
Sloane Street
Tues. 16 Feb. <1813)
Thurs. 20 May (1813)
Mon. 24 May <1813>
( xxiv )
List of Letters
ORIGINAL.
Maine Hist. Soc;
Pierpont Morgan Library
Pierpont Morgan Library
Pierpont Morgan Library
(Contemporary copy, not by
J* A. — British Museum)
REVIOUS PUBLICATION
(whole or part).
Braboume II 53 ; Life 224.
Braboume II 59 ; Life 220.
Braboume II 60 ; Life 227.
Braboume II 72 ; Life 228.
Life 230.
British Museum
Times 16 Dec. 1930 (part).
Pierpont Morgan Library
British Museum
Pierpont Morgan Library
Hist. Soc. of Pennsylvania
Pierpont Morgan Library
Pierpont Morgan Library
Braboume II 82 ; Life 244.
Braboume II 89 ; Life 246.
Braboume II 97 ; Life 251.
Braboume II 100 ; Life 251.
Braboume II 105 ; Life 252.
Braboume IIlll; Life 254.
Walter Hill (1930)
Not published (see p. 499).
T. Edward Carpenter
T. Edward Carpenter
T. Edward Carpenter
T. Edward Carpenter
Mrs. Henry Burke
T. Edward Carpenter
Pierpont Morgan Library
Memoir 1 135, Memoir 2 99 (where
extracts from Nos. 75 and 78 are
printed together) ; Life 258.
Memoir 1 131, Memoir 2 97; Life
260.
Memoir 1 133, Memoir 2 99; Life
261.
Memoir 1 133, Memoir 2 99 (see
above on No. 75) ; Life 262.
Not published (see p. 503).
Memoir 2 102 ; Life 265.
Braboume II 139; Life 267.
List of Letters
NO.
RECIPIENT.
PLACE.
DATE.
81
Francis Austen
Chawton
<Sat.> 3 July 1818
82
Cassandra Austen
Henrietta Street
Wed. 15 Sept. <1813>
83
Cassandra Austen
Henrietta Street
Thurs. <16 Sept. 1813>
84
Cassandra Austen
Godmersham
Thurs. 23 Sept. <1813>
85
Francis Austen
Godmersham
<Sat.> 25 Sept. 1813
86
Cassandra Austen
Godmersham
Mon. 11 Oct. 1813
87
Cassandra Austen
Godmersham
Thurs. 14 Oct. 1813
88
Cassandra Austen
Godmersham
Thurs. 21 Oct. <1813>
89
Cassandra Austen
Godmersham
Tues. 26 Oct. <1813>
90
Cassandra Austen
Godmersham
Wed. 3 Nov. 1813
91
Cassandra Austen
Godmersham
Sat. 6 Nov. <1813>
92
Cassandra Austen
Henrietta Street
Wed. 2 Mar. <1814>
93
Cassandra Austen
Henrietta Street
Sat. 5 Mar. <1814>
94
Cassandra Austen
Henrietta Street
Wed. 9 Mar. <1814>
95
Anna Austen
<Chawton>
<May or June 1814>
96
Cassandra Austen
Chawton
Tues. 13 (14) June
<1814>
97
Cassandra Austen
(Chawton)
Thurs. 23 June (1814)
98
Anna Austen
Chawton
Wed. 10 Aug. (1814)
99
Cassandra Austen
23 Hans Place
Tues. (Aug. 1814)
99.1
Martha Lloyd
23 Hans Place
Fri. 2 Sep. 1814
100
Anna Austen
Chawton
(Fri.) 9 Sept. (1814)
101
Anna Austen
Chawton
Wed. 28 Sept. (1814)
( xxvi )
List
ORIGINAL.
British Museum
Sir Alfred Law
Cleveland H. Dodge
Pierpont Morgan Library
British Museum
Pierpont Morgan Library
Harvard College Library
* • • «
Mrs. Henry Burke
Pierpont Morgan Library
Pierpont Morgan Library
Sotheby 3 May 1948
Pierpont Morgan Library
Pierpont Morgan Library
St. John’s College, Oxford
Mrs. Henry Burke
Haverford College
St. John’s College, Oxford
Pierpont Morgan Library
Mrs. R. M. Mowll
St. John’s College, Oxford
St. John’s College, Oxford
of Letters
PREVIOUS PUBLICATION
(WHOLE OR part).
Sailor Brothers 233 ; Life 85, 270.
Brabourne II 145; Life 273.
Brabourne II 154; Life 276.
Brabourne II 159 ; Life 276.
Sailor Brothers 243 ; Life 278.
Brabourne II 169 ; Life 282.
Brabourne II 177 ; Life 283.
Brabourne II 189; Life 285.
Brabourne II 194; Life 285.
Brabourne II 200 ; Life 287.
Brabourne II 209; Life 288.
Memoir 2 104; Life 291.
Brabourne II 222 ; Life 294.
Brabourne II 231 ; Life 295.
Brabourne II 304 ; Life 354.
Brabourne II 234 ; Life 303.
Brabourne II 236 ; Life 304.
Memoir 1 119, Memoir 2 91 ; Bra-
bourne II 305; Life 354.
Brabourne II 240 ; Life 305.
Memoir 1 120, Memoir * 91 ; Bra-
bourne II 310; Life 357.
Memoir 1 111 , 120, Memoir 2 85, 91 ;
Brabourne II 315 ; Life 359.
( xxvii )
List of Letters
NO.
RECIPIENT,
PLACE,
DATE.
102
Anna Austen
• • * +
• • • •
103
Fanny Knight
Chawton
Fri. 18 Nov, <1814>
104
Anna Lefroy
<Chawton>
Tues. 22 Nov. 1814
105
Anna Lefroy
Hans Place
<Tues. 29 Nov. 1814>
106
Fanny Knight
Hans Place
Wed. 30 Nov. <1814>
107
Anna Lefroy
Hans Place
Wed. < Dec. 1814>
108
<Anna Lefroy >
<Chawton>
n.d.
109
Anna Lefroy
<Hans Place>
<Nov. or Dec. 1814 ?>
110
Anna Lefroy
Chawton
Fri. 29 Sept. <1815>
111
Cassandra Austen
Hans Place
Tues. 17 Oct. <1815>
112
Caroline Austen
Hans Place
Mon. 30 Oct. <1815>
113
J. S. Clarke
<Hans Plaee>
<Wed.> 15 Nov. 1815
114
<John Murray >
<Hans PIace>
<? Nov. 1815>
115
John Murray
Hans Place
Thurs. 23 Nov. <1815>
116
Cassandra Austen
Hans Place
Fri. 24 Nov. <1815>
117
Cassandra Austen
*
Hans Place
Sun. 26 Nov. <1815>
118
Cassandra Austen
Hans Place
Sat. 2 Dec. 1815
119
Caroline Austen
• * * *
6 Dec. <? 1815>
120
J. S. Clarke
<Hans Place>
<Mon.> 11 Dec. 1815
( xxviii )
List of Letters
ORIGINAL;
(Copy by F. C. Lefroy— Miss
Lefroy)
Lord Brabourne
Miss Lefroy
R * A . Austen-Leigh (fragment) ;
Miss Lefroy (fragment, and
copy by Mrs. Bellas) ; Lady
Charnwood (fragment)
Lord Brabourne
St* John’s College, Oxford
Miss Lefroy (fragment)
[now, 1931, R.W.C.]
R* A. Austen-Leigh
Miss Lefroy
Sotheby 3 May 1948
L. A. Austen-Leigh
Copy by J. A. — Pierpont Morgan
Library
Earl Stanhope
• • • • • »
Pierpont Morgan Library
H. V. Marrot (formerly)
Pierpont Morgan Library
L. A. Austen-Leigh
Copy by J. A, — T* E. Carpenter
(>
PREVIOUS PUBLICATION
(WHOLE OR PART).
Not published.
Brabourne II 277 ; Life 308, 842.
Brabourne II 320.
Memoir 1 116, Memoir 2 88 ; Bra-
bourne II 321 ; Life 361.
Brabourne II 284 ; Life 308, 345.
Memoir 1 121, Memoir 2 92; Bra-
bourne II 322; Life 361.
Memoir' 116, 173, Memoir 2 89, 131 ;
Brabourne II 323 (misplaced);
Life 362.
Memoir 1 173, Memoir 2 131.
Brabourne II 324.
Life 309.
Life 365.
Memoir 1 149, Memoir 2 112; Life
312.
Not published.
Memoir 2 122 ; Life 314.
Brabourne II 249 ; Life 315.
Brabourne II 253; Life 316.
Brabourne II 258 ; Life 317.
Life 363.
Memoir 1 152; Memoir 2 114; Life
319.
:ix )
List of Letters
NO.
RECIPIENT.
PLACE.
DATES*
121
John Murray
Hans Place
<Mon.) 11 Dec. <1815)
122
John Murray
Hans Place
(Mon.) 11 Dec. (1815)
122.1
Charles Thomas
Haden
Hans Place
Thurs. (14 Dec. 1815)
123
The Countess of Morley . *
(Sun.) 31 Dec. 1815
124
Anna Lefroy
» # ^ •
(? Dec. 1815)
125
Caroline Austen
Chawton
Wed. 13 Mar. (1816)
126
J. S. Clarke
Chawton
(Mon.) 1 Apr. 1816
127
John Murray
Chawton
(Mon.) 1 Apr. 1816
128
Caroline Austen
Chawton
Sun. 21 Apr. (1810)
1281
Caroline Austen
<Chawton>
(Sun. 21 Apr* 1810)
129
Anna Lefroy
Chawton
B-
Sun. 23 June (1810>
180
Edward Austen
Chawton
Tues. 9 July 1816
131
Caroline Austen
Chawton
Mon. 15 July (1816)
132
Cassandra Austen
< Chawton >
(Wed.) 4 Sept. 1816
133
Cassandra Austen
Chawton
Sun. 8 Sept. (1816>
134
Edward Austen
Chawton
Mon. 16 Dec. (1816)
185
Anna Lefroy
<Chawton>
Thurs. (late in 1816)
( xxx )
List of Letters
ORIGINAL.
Lt.-Col. Sir John Murray
• • • • • •
Mrs. Henry Burke
Mrs. Henry Burke
R. A. Austen-Lei»h
o
L. A. Austen-Leigh
Copy by J. A.— T. E. Carpenter
* * * • • • .
(Copies— L. A. Austen-Leigh
and Miss Lefroy)
L. A. Austen-Leigh
(Copy by Mrs. Bellas— Miss
Lefroy)
L. A. Austen-Leigh
L. A. Austen-Leigh
L. A. Austen-Leigh
Pierpont Morgan Library
L. A. Austen-Leigh
(Copy by Anna Lefroy — Miss
Lefroy)
PREVIOUS PUBLICATION
(whole on part).
Memoir 2 122; Life 318.
Memoir 2 124; Life 319.
Not published.
Memoir 1 1 40, Memoir 2 126; Life 326.
Memoir 1 203, Memoir 2 148.
Life 365.
Memoir 1 156, Memoir 2 116; Life
323.
Memoir 2 1 24 ; Life 327.
Not published.
Not published.
Brabourne II 326.
Memoir 1 208, Memoir 2 151 s Life
371. J
Life 364.
Life 374.
Brabourne II 262 ; Life 375.
Biographical Notice (in N onhanger
Abbey, 1818 ; short extract) ;
Memoir 1 212, Memoir 2 153 ;
Life 377.
Not published.
( xxxi )
c
List of Letters
NO.
RECIPIENT.
PLACE.
DATE.
136
Cassandra Austen
(daughter of
Charles Austen)
Cliawton
<Wed.> 8 Jan. 1817
137
Caroline Austen
Chawton
Thurs. 23 Jan. 1817
138
Caroline Austen
• ■ * •
Wed. <1817>
139
Alethea Bigg
Chawton
<Fri.> 24 Jan. 1817
140
Fanny Knight
Chawton
Thurs. 20 Feb. <1817>
141
Fanny Knight
Chawton
Thurs. 13 Mar. <1817>
14-1.1
Caroline Austen
Chawton
<Fri.) 14 March <1817)
142
Fanny Knight
Chawton
Sun. 23 Mar. <1817>
143
Caroline Austen
Chawton
Wed. 26 Mar. <1817>
144
Charles Austen
Chawton
Sun. 6 Apr. <1817>
145
Anne Sharp
Chawton
<Tliurs.>22May<1817>
146
Edward Austen
College Street,
Win ton
Tues. 27 May 1817
147
• * • »
<College Street)
<end of May 1817>
148
C. A. Prowting
(Chawton)
I
( xxxii )
List of Letters
ORIGINAL.
Pierpont Morgan Library
PREVIOUS PUBLICATION
(whole Oil PART).
Brabourne II 327.
L. A. Austen-Leigh
Memoir 2 160 ; TAfc 360.
L. A. Austen-Leigh
Life 367.
i i * •
m *
Memoir 2 158 ; Life 379.
Lord llrabourne
Brabourne II 290 ; Life 348, 333.
Lord Brabourne
Brabourne II 295 ; Life 351, 383.
Lady Charnwood
Not published.
Lord Brabourne
Brabourne II 299 ; Life 352, 383.
L. A. Austen-Leigh
Life 367.
British Museum
Memoir 1 207, Memoir 2 150 (short
extract) ; Life 385.
Miss A. L. Siilar
Times 1 Feb. 1926.
L. A. Austen-Leigh
o
Memoir 2 163 ; Life 389.
« 9
Biographical Notice (in Northanger
Abbey, 1818) ; Memoir 1 207, 224,
Memoir 2 150, 164 ; Life 391.
Miss Tucker
Not published.
( xxxiii )
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
A Drawing by Cassandra Austen . . Frontispiece
A coloured drawing from the Lefroy MS. This, which is
signed and dated by Cassandra Austen (CEA 1804), was
inserted by Anna Lefroy in her volume of family history.
It is the only drawing in the book not of her own composi-
tion. Its place in the volume, coming just before a copy
of one of J . A.’s letters, and the fact that it has no descriptive
legend, suggest that it was a portrait of Jane ; for otherwise
its presence would have called for explanation. Moreover,
there are at least two copies of it (one of which I have seen)
in other family collections. There is, I think, a presumption
that it is Jane Austen ; at least it is a pleasing example of
Cassandra’s talent. I have preferred it to the two known
portraits of Jane which are familiar. 1
Cottages at Steventon ; from a drawing by Anna Lefroy p. xlvi
Astley’s Amphitheatre; from Ackermann’s Repository
1808 ...... Facing page 6
Steventon Rectory 1814 ; from a drawing in the possession
of R. A. Austen-Leigh . . . . .10
Jane Austen’s Parents; from Chawton Manor, 1911 . 64
Axford and Paragon Buildings. From Nattes’s Bath, 1806 128
Lyme Regis ; from a lithograph made for Daniel Dunster,
c. 1844, when the Three Cups was burned down . 136
Sydney Gardens. From Nattes’s Bath, 1806 . . 144
Goodnestone Park ...... 160
Godmersham Park ; from Ilasted’s Kent . .168
Southampton in 1819, showing Lord Lansdowne’s Castle;
from a print lent by Mr. H. B. Lankester . . 192
Edward Austen (Knight) ; from a miniature by Sir William
Ross; Chawton Manor, 1911 .... 208
1 This conjecture has been verified. See my Jane Austen, 1948, 213.
( XXXV )
List of Illustrations
Elizabeth Austen (nee Bridges) ; from a miniature by
Cosway; Chawton Manor, 1911 . * Facing page 216
Chawton Cottage; from a Times photograph, 1 Jan.
1926 ........ 266
Chawton House ; from a print by G. F. Prosser . . 304
Covent Garden Theatre; from Ackermann’s Repository ,
1808 ........ 322
Godmersham Park; from Ilasted’s Kent . , 330
The High Street, Canterbury. From a lithograph by
Thomas Sidney Cooper (1803-1902) . . . 362
Miss O’Neill as Isabella ; from a print by Cheesman after
Boaden ....... 418
Carlton House ; from Ackermann’s Repositoi'y^ 1808 . 450
Banknote of Austen, Maunde, and Tilson (by permission
of the Institute of Bankers) . . . # 458
Steventon Manor ; from a drawing by Anna Lefroy Page 520
Plan of the Neighbourhood of Steventon . . * 521
Bookplates of Austen of Broadford and Austen
of Sevenoaks ...... 522
Map of Hampshire ... ... 523
Plan of Hans Place, showing Henry Austen’s
houses, 64 Sloane Street and 23 Hans Place . . 524
Chawton Church ; from a drawing by Anna Lefroy . 525
Plan of Chawton ...... 526
Emma ; the Dedication, from the first edition Facing Note 69
( xxxvi )
AUTHORITIES
MSS. of the Letters
See the Preface. For a fuller account of the MSS. see the Intro-
duction to my edition of the Memoir (Oxford 1920). The table
printed above indicates the ownership of all letters I havetraced; 1
I have seen the originals, or photographs, of all these letters.
Other Primary Authorities
Opinions of Mansfield Park and Emma collected by J. A. from
her acquaintance, and preserved in her handwriting. See
Plan of a Novel, &c., Oxford 1920. Cited as Opinions.
Henry Austen: anonymous Biographical Notice prefixed to the
first edition of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion 1818;
somewhat expanded as introduction to Bentley’s collected
edition of the novels, 1833.
Caroline Austen: unpublished Reminiscences by J. A.’s niece,
in the possession of Mr. E. C. Austen-Leigh. ‘The entries
in my Mother's well-kept pocket-books are the authorities
on which I write.’
Anna Lefroy: unpublished Reminiscences by J. A.’s niece, in
the possession of Miss Isabel Lefroy. Cited as Lefroy MS.
James Edward Austen-Leigh : Memoir of his Aunt, published
1870 ; second edition (expanded) 1871. Cited as Memoir ♦
The same: Recollections of the Early Days of the Vine Hunt . . . .
By a Sexagenarian . Privately printed 1865.
Powlett Correspondence. Unpublished letters from Frank
Temple, son of William Johnston Temple (Boswell’s corre-
spondent and ancestor of the Archbishop), to his sister Anne,
Mrs. Charles Powlett; and between the latter and her
husband; in the possession of Mrs. Horatia Powlett.
R. A. Austen-Leigh, Austen Papers 1701-1356. Privately
printed 1942.
1 I have indicated (1949) all cl ■anges of ownership known to me.
( xxxv ii )
Authorities
Lybbe Powys, Mrs. Philip : Passages from the Diaries of Mrs .
P. L. P. of Hardwick House , Oxon. y 1756-1808 . Edited by
Emily J. Climenson. 1899,
Secondary Authorities
Letters of Jane Austen , 1884. Edited, from MSS. inherited from
his mother (Fanny Knight, Lady Knatchbull, J. A.’s niece),
by her son Edward Knatchbull Hugessen, first Lord Bra-
bourne, This edition is still the sole authority for nearly
twenty letters, the originals of which have not been traced.
Cited as Brabourne.
Mrs. Bellas, daughter of Anna Lefroy : (1) unpublished volume
of reminiscences, based on her mother’s volume but with
substantial additions ; in the possession of Miss Isabel Lefroy.
(2) Unpublished notes in her copy of Lord Brabourne’ s edition
of the Letters, in the possession of Miss C. L. Thomson.
Jane Austen's Sailor Brothers , by J. H. and E, C. Hubback,
1906. Cited as Sailor Brothers .
Jane Austen's Life and Letters , by W. and R. A. Austen-Leigh,
1913 ; second edition, 1913. Now unhappily out of print.
The authors of the Life had access to almost all the originals
known to me of the Letters, and to almost all the unpublished
documents described above, as well as to other family papers.
The present edition of the Letters makes no attempt to
supersede their work, which gives a full account of J. A.’s
environment, and is indispensable. Cited as Life .
Mary Augusta Austen-Leigh: Memoir of her father J. E. A.-L.
Privately printed 1911*
William Austen-Leigh and Montagu George Knight: Chawton
Manor and its Owners. 1911.
Constance Hill: Jane Austen , Her Homes and her Friends
1901, third ed. 1923. Miss Hill had access to Lefroy and
other MSS. *
Bibliography
Geoffrey Keynes: Jane Austen; A Bibliography. 1929. See
^A^erature^ ^ in tile Cambridge Bibliography of English
( xxxviii )
INTRODUCTION
J ANE AUSTEN’S letters have had some detractors
and some apologists. They have received little
whole-hearted praise even from the ‘idolators’ of
the novels. It has been assumed that they have little
interest except for the few brief rays with which they
illumine the history of the novels, and would be hardly
readable if their author were not otherwise famous,
A familiar complaint is that they have nothing to say
about the great events that were shaking Europe a
kind of negative criticism seldom elsewhere applied to
family correspondence. A familiar defence is that the
letters have been robbed of their general interest by
Cassandra Austen’s pious destruction of all that she
supposed might possibly excite general curiosity. We
know from their niece Caroline that ‘her letters to
Aunt Cassandra were, I daresay, open and confidential.
My Aunt looked them over and burnt the greater part
as she told me three or four years before her own
death. She left or gave some as legacies to the nieces,
but of those that I have seen several had portions
cut out.’ 1
Doubtless this suppression has cost us much that
we should value. But we may suspect that it has not
materially affected the impression we should have
received from a richer survival. The sisters were, for
the greater part of their joint lives, together, and in
conditions of the closest intimacy. They were from
time to time separated by long visits, and then corre-
sponded regularly. But the purpose of their letters
1 Quoted in Personal Aspects of Jane Austen by M. A. Austen-
Leigh, 1020, p. 145.
( xxxix )
Introduction
was to exchange information not only between them-
selves, but between two branches of a large family.
There are indications that these letters and others like
them were read by, and to, a number of people. Even
if this had not been so, it would not have been consonant
with the sisters’ temperament, or with their way of
life, to exchange letters of sentiment or disquisition.
It would not have suited Jane Austen’s sense of pro-
priety to charge her sister sixpence (or thereabouts) for
opinions on religion or politics, on life or letters, which
were known already, or would keep. But news would
not wait, and news must always give satisfaction.
Only on rare and emergent occasions, I believe, was
the ordinary tenor of news interrupted . 1
I must add, though with reluctance, my impression
that Cassandra Austen was not the correspondent who
best evoked her sister’s powers. The letters to the
nieces show more flow of fancy, less attention to the
business of news. And the two letters , 2 recovered in
recent years, to friends outside the family are notably
above the average in variety and vigour.
But I would not seem to be apologetic where I see
no need for apology. Are these letters in fact un-
interesting? I have not found them so. Even if Jane
Austen had no other claim to be remembered, her
letters would be memorable. Read with attention,
they yield a picture of the life of the upper middle class
of that time which is surely without a rival. And they
depict not only manners, but also persons. Jane
Austen’s own family, with its ramifications by mar-
riage, is itself a larger — I had almost said, a more
1 ‘I am quite dependent on the communications of our friends*
or my own wits/ p. 245, 2 Numbers 74*1 and 145*
(xl)
Introduction
ambitious— subject than any she attempted in her
novels. And though the characterization is incidental,
and hardly ever deliberate, it is by the same hand as
Lady Beitiam and Mrs. Norris. Round the family is
grouped a gallery of lesser persons, all of whom — if
they aie not merely named — acquire some individua-
lity. It is difficult not to remember even Mr. Robert
Mascall, though we hardly know more of him than
that he eats a great deal of butter *. There are in
these five hundred pages characters chiefiy conspicuous
for their amiability: Cassandra herself, and Edward,
and the two sailors, and Martha Lloyd, and old Mrs.
Knight. There are public characters — -not many of
these — like Mr. Crabbe, seen or not seen at a distance,
or Mr. Lushington, M.P., M.F., who could talk well
about Milton; ‘I daresay he is ambitious and in-
sincere . There are brilliant and versatile characters,
notably Henry Austen, who reminds us of Henry
Tilney and even of Henry Crawford, but had more of
genius than any man in the novels ; attractive young
people, like Fanny Knight and her ‘agreeable, idle
brothers ’, Anna Austen, and Mr. Haden ; mixed charac-
ters, like Mrs. James Austen, and Miss Sharp, and
‘that puss Cassy ’, and Mr. Moore, Rector of Wrotham ;
and farcical characters, like Mrs. Henry Digweed, and
Mrs. Stent, and Miss Milles of Canterbury, whom the
late A. B. Walkley guessed to be the prototype of
Miss Bates. Many of these persons have, no doubt,
assumed some artificial importance to an editor who
has made it his business to hunt for facts about them.
I can urge, on the other side, that ten years’ intimacy
has raised, not lessened, my regard. I cannot be
mistaken in the belief that, in their several degrees, they
Introduction
are alive. How they are brought to life, without
quotation and almost without description, may be
perceived but can hardly be explained.
The letters are, like most letters, occasional, un-
studied, and inconsequent. Their themes are acci-
dental ; their bulk, that of a quarto sheet. As a series,
though they have connexion, they have no coherence ;
they straggle over twenty years, and lack a plot.
Their details, therefore, unlike the details of Emma,
are not the ingredients or the embellishments of a
rounded composition. If they can be called works of
art, they are so only because, as their writer reminds
us, 1 ‘an artist cannot do anything slovenly’. But as
fragments — fragments of observation, of characteriza-
tion, of criticism — they are in the same class as the
material of the novels ; and in some respects they have
a wider range.
But with all their vividness, are these letters trifling?
Can they be plausibly called ‘a desert of trivialities
punctuated by occasional oases of clever malice’? 2
Life, wrote Johnson, ‘is made up of little things’.
Trifles are dear to all our hearts, if they are attached
to the objects of our affection — whether persons or
things. ‘The tables are come. . . . They are both
covered with green baize and send their best Love.’ 3
The writer of these letters was never ashamed to be
minute. ‘ You know how interesting the purchase of a
spongecake is to me.’ 4 The question, for that posterity
whom she did not here address, is not whether she
1 AeL 23 ; p, 30.
4 H. W. Garrod in Essays by Divers Hands (R. Society of Litera-
ture), viii, 1928.
3 p. 82, cf. pp. 162, 381. * p . i 9 i.
( xlii )
Introduction
wrote of trifles, but whether she makes the small
change of her life important, amusing, and endearing
to us her unlicensed readers; or, on the contrary,
reveals a cold heart, a meagre intelligence, and a petty
spirit. We know that Jane Austen the novelist had a
genius for the particular ; a zest for the small concerns
or belongings of her creatures, which her genius made
communicable. The readers of Mansfield Park were
not told how much Mrs. Norris gave William Price
at parting. But her family knew that Miss Austen
could tell them, if she chose, what the ‘something
considerable’ was. So the secret got out, and still
delights each new participant. The eager, affectionate
interest which the letters show in matters of domestic
concern (‘ Pray, where did the boys sleep ? ’ 1 ) is scarcely
less infectious.
But the enchantment which enthusiasts have some-
times found in these letters will not be universally
admitted. It will be admitted by those only in whose
own experience little things — like nicknames, or family
jokes, or the arrangement of the furniture — are in-
separable from the deeper joys, and even from the
deeper sorrows of life; and by those only who find
wisdom and humanity in this correspondence, as well
as — or in despite of — its devotion to minutiae. To
those who do not find these qualities in them, the
letters may appear not merely trivial, but hard and
cold. Even their professed admirers have deplored
their occasional cynicism. The charge should be met,
though I ought to confess that I do not well compre-
hend it. The letters abound in gentle or playful malice ;
and sharper strokes are frequent. Mr. Robert Mascall
1 Page 369.
( xliii )
Introduction
is not the only person whose character is blasted in
a phrase. Some mercy is shown to foolishness :
4 Dear Mrs. Digweed! I cannot bear that she should not
be foolishly happy after a Ball . 51
But not very much :
‘If the Brother should luckily be a little sillier than the
Colonel, what a treasure for Eliza . 52
‘She was highly rouged, and looked rather quietly and
contentedly silly than anything else . 53
There is none at all for meanness or pretence.
‘They live in a handsome style and are rich, and she
seemed to like to be rich, and we gave her to understand
that we were far from being so ; she will soon feel therefore
that we are not worth her acquaintance . 5 4
‘ I would not give much for Mr. Rice’s chance of living at
Deane ; he builds his hope, I find, not upon anything that
his mother has written, but upon the effect of what he has
written himself. He must write a great deal better than
those eyes indicate if he can persuade a perverse and narrow-
minded woman to oblige those whom she does not love.’ 5
This may be thought censorious by those who have
no taste for satire. But the unpublished portrait of
Mrs. Rice deserves the charge of cruelty no more and
no less than the published portrait of Mrs. Norris;
and it has been remarked that Jane Austen does
justice to the virtues which Mrs. Norris had. Whatever
be thought of these asperities, they are not spiteful.
The author of Pride and Prejudice was not insensible
of the beauty of candour ; of the virtue which Elizabeth
Bennet, praising her sister, calls ‘candour without
1 Page 345. 2 Page 210. 8 Page 128.
4 Page 175. B Page 117.
( xliv )
Introduction
ostentation or design — to take the good of every
body’s character, and make it still better, and say
nothing of the bad . She, like her Elizabeth, knew that
her own distinctive talent lay in an opposite direction.
Neither of them scrupled to use it. But it is unfair
to conclude, because Miss Austen can be exquisitely
wicked, that she was deficient in the softer emotions j
just as it is unfair to deny her all romantic sentiment
because there, too, she knew her limitations, and
declared she * could no more write a romance than an
epic poem’. 1
As I lay aside the desultory employment of many
years, during which I have indulged a harmless
curiosity about the births, marriages, and deaths of
unimportant people, the details of travel, and the
economy of country houses, I cannot forbear to re-
mind myself of the closing sentences of The Last
Chronicle of Barset.
‘ 1 o me Barset has been a real country, and its city a real
city, and the spires and towers have been before my eyes,
and the voices of the people are known to my ears, and
the pavements of the city ways are familiar to my
footsteps.’
That Godmersliam and Chawton were and are real
places, as Barset and Mansfield were not, makes I
think no important difference. The miracle of com-
munication is the same.
1 Page 452.
(xlv)
1. To Cassandra Austen. Saturday 9 Jan. <1796)
Address (Brabourne) : To Miss Austen | Rev. Mr. Fowle’s, Kintbury,
Newbury
Original not traced.
Brabourne i. 125 ; Life 87, 08 (extracts).
Steventon : Saturday January 9
In the first place I hope you will live twenty-three
years longer. Mr. Tom Lefroy’s birthday was yester-
day, so that you are very near of an age.
After this necessary preamble I shall proceed to
inform you that we had an exceeding good ball last
night, and that I was very much disappointed at not
seeing Charles Fowle of the party, as I had previously
heard of his being invited. In addition to our set at
the Harwoods’ ball, we had the Grants, St. Johns,
Lady Rivers, her three daughters and a son, Mr. and
Miss Heathcote, Mrs. Lefevre, two Mr. Watkins, Mr.
J. Portal, Miss Deanes, two Miss Ledgers, and a tall
clergyman who came with them, whose name Mary
would never have guessed.
We were so terrible good as to take James in our
carriage, though there were three of us before ; but
indeed he deserves encouragement for the very great
improvement which has lately taken place in his
dancing. Miss Heathcote is pretty, but not near so
handsome as I expected. Mr. H. began with Eliza-
beth, and afterwards danced with her again ; but they
do not know how to he particular. I flatter myself,
however, that they will profit by the three successive
lessons which I have given them.
You scold me so much in the nice long letter which
I have this moment received from you, that I am
(1) B
1 ] From Steventon to Kintbury
~ v ' jy
almost afraid to tell you how my Irish friend and I
behaved. Imagine to yourself everything most profli-
gate and shocking in the way of dancing and sitting
down together. I can expose myself, however, only
once more, because he leaves the country soon after
next Friday, on which day we are to have a dance at
Ashe after all. He is a very gentlemanlike, good-
looking, pleasant young man, I assure you. But as
to our having ever met, except at the three last balls,
I cannot say much ; for he is so excessively laughed
at about me at Ashe, that he is ashamed of coming to
Steventon, and ran away when we called on Mrs.
Lefroy a few days ago.
We left Warren at Dean Gate, in our way home last
night, and he is now on his road to town. He left his
love, &c., to you, and I will deliver it when we meet.
Henry goes to Harden to-day in his way to his Master’s
degree. We shall feel the loss of these two most agree-
able young men exceedingly, and shall have nothing
to console us till the arrival of the Coopers on Tuesday.
As they will stay here till the Monday following, per-
haps Caroline will go to the Ashe ball with me, though
I dare say she will not.
I danced twice with Warren last night, and once
with Mr. Charles Watkins, and, to my inexpressible
astonishment, I entirely escaped John Lyford. I was
forced to fight hard for it, however. We had a very
good supper, and the greenhouse was illuminated in a
very elegant manner.
We had a visit yesterday morning from Mr. Benj amin
Portal, whose eyes are as handsome as ever. Every-
body is extremely anxious for your return, but as you
cannot come home by the Ashe ball, I am glad that
(2)
Saturday 9 January 1796 [1
*
I have not fed them with false hopes. James danced
with Alithea, and cut up the turkey last night with
great perseverance. You say nothing of the silk
stockings ; I flatter myself, therefore, that Charles has
not purchased any, as I cannot very well afford to pay
for them ; all my money is spent in buying white
gloves and pink persian. I wish Charles had been at
Manydown, because he would have given you some
description of my friend, and I think you must be
impatient to hear something about him.
Henry is still hankering after the Regulars, and as
his project of purchasing the adjutancy of the Oxford-
shire is now over, he has got a scheme in his head about
getting a lieutenancy and adjutancy in the 86th, a
new-raised regiment, which he fancies will be ordered
to the Cape of Good Hope. I heartily hope that he
will, as usual, be disappointed in this scheme. We
have trimmed up and given away all the old paper hats
of Mamma’s manufacture ; I hope you will not regret
the loss of yours.
After I had written the above, we received a visit
from Mr. Tom Lefroy and his cousin George. The
latter is really very well-behaved now ; and as for the
other, he has but one fault, which time will, I trust,
entirely remove — it is that his morning coat is a great
deal too light. He is a very great admirer of Tom
Jones, and therefore wears the same coloured clothes,
I imagine, which he did when he was wounded.
Sunday . — By not returning till the 19th, you will
exactly contrive to miss seeing the Coopers, which I
suppose it is your wish to do. We have heard nothing
from Charles for some time. One would suppose they
must have sailed by this time, as the wind is so favour-
(3)
1] From Steventon to Kintbury
able. What a funny name Tom has got for his vessel !
But he has no taste in names, as we well know, and
I dare say he christened it himself. I am sorry for the
Beaches’ loss of their little girl, especially as it is the
one so much like me.
I condole with Miss M. on her losses and with Eliza
on her gains, and am ever yours,
J. A.
2. To Cassandra Austen. Thursday <14> Jan. <1796)
Address : Miss Austen | The Rev. Mr. Fowle’s, Kintbury, Newbury
Postmark : 16 ia 1796.
Sir Alfred Law.
Brabourne i. 130 (misdated 16 Jan.) ; Life 88, 99 (extracts).
Steventon : Thursday January 16
I have just received yours and Mary s letter, and
I thank you both, though their contents might have
been more agreeable. 1 do not at all expect to see you
on Tuesday, since matters have fallen out so unplea-
santly ; and if you are not able to return till after that
day, it will hardly be possible for us to send for you
before Saturday, though for my own part I care so
little about the ball that it would be no sacrifice to me
to give it up for the sake of seeing you two days earlier.
We are extremely sorry for poor Eliza’s illness. I
trust, however, that she has continued to recover since
you wrote, and that you will none of you be the worse
for your attendance on her. What a good-for-nothing
fellow Charles is to bespeak the stockings ! I hope he
will be too hot all the rest of his life for it !
I sent you a letter yesterday to Ibthorp, which I
suppose you will not receive at Kintbury. It was not
(4)
Thursday 14 January 1796 [2
very long or very witty, and therefore if you never
receive it, it does not much signify. I wrote princi-
pally to tell you that the Coopers were arrived and in
good health. The little boy is very like Dr. Cooper,
and the little girl is to resemble Jane, they say.
Our party to Ashe to-morrow night will consist of
Edward Cooper, James (for a ball is nothing without
him), Buller, who is now staying with us, and I. I look
forward with great impatience to it, as I rather expect
to receive an offer from my friend in the course of the
evening. I shall refuse him, however, unless he pro-
mises to give away his white coat.
I am very much flattered by your commendation
of my last letter, for I write only for fame, and without
any view to pecuniary emolument.
Edward is gone to spend the day with his friend,
John Lyford, and does not return till to-morrow.
Anna is now here ; she came up in her chaise to spend
the day with her young cousins, but she does not much
take to them or to anything about them, except
Caroline’s spinning-wheel. I am very glad to find from
Mary that Mr. and Mrs. Fowle are pleased with you.
I hope you will continue to give satisfaction.
How impertinent you are to write to me about Tom,
as if I had not opportunities of hearing from him
myself ! The last letter that I received from him was
dated on Friday, 8th, and he told me that if the wind
should be favourable on Sunday, which it proved to
be, they were to sail from Falmouth on that day. By
this time, therefore, they are at Barbadoes, I suppose.
The Rivers are still at Manydown, and are to be at
Ashe to-morrow. I intended to call on the Miss Biggs
yesterday had the weather been tolerable. Caroline,
(5)
2] From Steventon to Kintbury
Anna, and I have just been devouring some cold souse,
and it would be difficult to say which enjoyed it most.
Tell Mary that I make over Mr. Heartley and all
his estate to her for her sole use and benefit in future,
and not only him, but all my other admirers into the
bargain wherever she can find them, even the kiss
which C. Powlett wanted to give me, as I mean to
confine myself in future to Mr. Tom Lefroy, for whom
I do not care sixpence. Assure her also, as a last and
indubitable proof of Warren’s indifference to me, that
he actually drew that gentleman’s picture for me, and
delivered it to me without a sigh.
Friday . — At length the day is come on which I am
to flirt my last with Tom Lefroy, and when you receive
this it will be over. My tears flow as I write at the
melancholy idea. Wm. Chute called here yesterday.
I wonder what he means by being so civil. There is
a report that Tom is going to be married to a Lich-
field lass. John Lyford and his sister bring Edward
home to-day, dine with us, and we shall all go together
to Ashe. I understand that we are to draw for part-
ners. I shall be extremely impatient to hear from you
again, that I may know how Eliza is, and when you
are to return.
With best love, &c., I am affectionately yours,
J. Austen
(<S)
" v|
Tuesday August 1796
[8
8 . To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday < Aug . 1796)
No address.
Original not traced.
Braboume i. 133 ; Life 99.
Cork Street: Tuesday morn (August 1796)
My dear Cassandra
Here I am once more in this scene of dissipation and
vice, and I begin already to find my morals corrupted.
We reached Staines yesterday, I do not (know) when,
without suffering so much from the heat as I had
hoped to do. We set off again this morning at seven
o’clock, and had a very pleasant drive, as the morning
was cloudy and perfectly cool. I came all the way in
the chaise from Hertford Bridge.
Edward and Frank are both gone out to seek their
fortunes ; the latter is to return soon and help us seek
ours. The former we shall never see again. We are
to be at Astley’s to-night, which I am glad of. Edward
has heard from Henry this morning. He has not been
at the races at all, unless his driving Miss Pearson over
to Rowling one day can be so called. We shall find
him there on Thursday.
I hope you are all alive after our melancholy parting
yesterday, and that you pursued your intended avoca-
tion with success. God bless you ! I must leave off,
for we are going out.
Yours very affectionately,
J. Austen
Everybody’s love.
( 7 )
4]
From Rowling to Steventon
4. To Cassandra Austen. Thursday 1 Sept. <1796)
Address (Brabourne) : Miss Austen, Steventon, Overton, Hants
Original not traced.
Brabourne i. 134 ; Life 101 (extracts).
Rowling : Thursday September 1
My dearest Cassandra
The letter which I have this moment received from
you has diverted me beyond moderation. I could die
of laughter at it, as they used to say at school. You
are indeed the finest comic writer of the present age.
Since I wrote last, we have been very near returning
to Steventon so early as next week. Such, for a day
or two, was our dear brother Henry’s scheme, but at
present matters are restored, not to what they were,
for my absence seems likely to be lengthened still
farther. I am sorry for it, but what can I do ?
Henry leaves us to-morrow for Yarmouth, as he
wishes very much to consult his physician there, on
whom he has great reliance. He is better than he was
when he first came, though still by no means well.
According to his present plan, he will not return here
till about the 23rd, and bring with him, if he can, leave
of absence for three weeks, as he wants very much to
have some shooting at Godmersham, whither Edward
and Elizabeth are to remove very early in October.
If this scheme holds, I shall hardly be at Steventon
before the middle of that month ; but if you cannot
do without me, I could return, I suppose, with Frank
if he ever goes back. He enjoys himself here very
much, for he has just learnt to turn, and is so delighted
with the employment, that he is at it all day long.
I am sorry that you found such a conciseness in the
( 8 )
Thursday 1 September 1796 [4
strains of my first letter. I must endeavour to make
you amends for it, when we meet, by some elaborate
details, which I shall shortly begin composing.
I have had my new gown made up, and it really
makes a very superb surplice. I am sorry to say that
my new coloured gown is very much washed out,
though I charged everybody to take great care of it.
I hope yours is so too. Our men had but indifferent
weather for their visit to Godmersham, for it rained
great part of the way there and all the way back.
They found Mrs. Knight remarkably well and in very
good spirits. It is imagined that she will shortly be
married again. I have taken little George once in my
arms since I have been here, which I thought very
kind. I have told Fanny about the bead of her neck-
lace, and she wants very much to know where you
found it.
To-morrow I shall be just like Camilla in Mr.
Dubster’s summer-house ; for my Lionel will have
taken away the ladder by which I came here, or at
least by which I intended to get away, and here I
must stay till his return. My situation, however, is
somewhat preferable to hers, for I am very happy
here, though I should be glad to get home by the end
of the month. I have no idea that Miss Pearson will
return with me.
What a fine fellow Charles is, to deceive us into
writing two letters to him at Cork ! I admire his in-
genuity extremely, especially as he is so great a gainer
by it.
Mr. and Mrs. Cage and Mr. and Mrs. Bridges dined
with us yesterday. Fanny seemed as glad to see me
as anybody, and enquired very much after you, whom
(9)
4] From Bowling to Steventon
she supposed to be making your wedding-clothes. She
is as handsome as ever, and somewhat fatter. We had
a very pleasant day, and some liqusuTS in the evening.
Louisa’s figure is very much improved ; she is as stout
again as she was. Her face, from what I could see of
it one evening, appeared not at all altered. She and
the gentlemen walked up here on Monday night she
came in the morning with the Cages from Hythe.
Lady Hales, with her two youngest daughters, have
been to see us. Caroline is not grown at all coarser
than she was, nor Harriet at all more delicate. I am
glad to hear so good an account of Mr. Charde, and
only fear that my long absence may occasion his
relapse. I practise every day as much as I can — I
wish it were more for his sake. I have heard nothing
of Mary Robinson since I have been (here). I expect
to be well scolded for daring to doubt, whenever the
subject is mentioned.
Frank has turned a very nice little butter-churn for
Fanny. I do not believe that any of the party were
aware of the valuables they had left behind ; nor can
I hear anything of Anna’s gloves. Indeed I have not
enquired at all about them hitherto.
We are very busy making Edward’s shirts, and I
am proud to say that I am the neatest worker of the
party. They say that there are a prodigious number
of birds hereabouts this year, so that perhaps I may
kill a few. I am glad to hear so good an account of
Mr. Limprey and J. Lovett. I know nothing of my
mother’s handkerchief, but I dare say I shall find it
soon.
I am very affectionately yours,
Jane
( 10 )
Monday 5 September 1796
[5
6 . To Cassandra Austen. Monday 5 Sept. < 1796 )
*
Address : lost.
Harold Murdock (one leaf). Facsimile in W. II. Helm, Jane Austen
and her Country-IIouse Comedy , 1009. Pages 3-4 were already
missing when Lord Brabourne published the letter. He indicates
a hiatus after five volumes , but this is not exact ; the sentence last
printed was a postscript, added to page 1.
Brabourne i. 138 ; Life 101,
Rowling Monday 5 th Sept 1
My dear Cassandra
I shall be extremely anxious to hear the Event of
your Ball, & shall hope to receive so long & minute an
account of every particular that I shall be tired of
reading it. Let me know how many besides their
fourteen Selves & Mr & Mrs Wright, Michael will con-
trive to place about their Coach, and how many of
the Gentlemen, Musicians & Waiters, he will have
persuaded to come in their Shooting Jackets. I hope
John Lovett’s accident will not prevent his attending
the Ball, as you will otherwise be obliged to dance
with Mr. Tincton the whole Evening. Let me know
how J. Harwood deports himself without the Miss
; — and which of the Marys will carry the day
with my Brother James. We were at a Ball on Satur-
day I assure you. We dined at Goodnestone & in the
Evening danced two Country Dances and the Bou-
langeries. — I opened the Ball with Edw d Bridges ;
the other couples, were Lewis Cage & Harriot, Frank
and Louisa, Fanny & George. Eliz th played one
Country dance, Lady Bridges the other, which she
made Henry dance with her ; and Miss Finch played
the Boulangeries — On reading over the last three or
four Lines, I am aware of my having expressed myself
( 11 )
g] From Rowling to Steventon
in so doubtful a manner that if I did not tell you to
the contrary, Y ou might imagine it was Lady Bridges
who made Henry dance with her, at the same time
that she was playing — which if not impossible must
appear a very improbable Event to you. But it was
Eliz: who danced — .
We supped there, & walked home at night under
the shade of two Umbrellas. — Today the Goodne-
stone Party begins to disperse & spread itself abroad.
Mr. & Mrs. Cage & George repair to Hythe. Lady
Waltham, Miss Bridges & Miss Mary Finch to Dover,
for the health of the two former. — I have never seen
Marianne at all. —
On Thursday Mr. & Mrs. Bridges return to Danbury ;
Miss Harriot Hales accompanies them to London in
her way to Dorsetshire. Farmer Clarinbould died this
morning, & I fancy Edward means to get some of his
Farm if he can cheat Sir Brook enough in the agre-
ment. — We have just got some venison from Godmer-
sham, which the two Mr. Harveys are to devour to-
morrow ; and on friday or Saturday the Goodnestone
people are to finish their Scraps. Henry went away
on friday as he purposed without fayl ; — You will hear
from him soon I imagine, as he talked of writing to
Steventon shortly. Mr. Richard Harvey is going to
be married ; but as it is a great secret, & only known
to half the Neighbourhood, you must not mention it.
The Lady’s name is Musgrove. — I am in great Distress.
— I cannot determine whether I shall give Richis half
a guinea or only five Shillings when I go away.
Counsel me, amiable Miss Austen, and tell me which
will be the most.— We walked Frank last night to
Crixhall ruff, and he appeared much edified. Little
( 12 )
Monday 5 September 1796 [5
Edward was breeched yesterday for good & all, and
was whipped, into the Bargain. Pray remember me to
Everybody who does not enquire after me. Those who
do, remember me without bidding. . . .
Give my Love to Mary Harrison, & tell her I wish
whenever she is attached to a young Man, some
respectable Dr. Marchmont may keep them apart for
five Volumes.
6. To Cassandra Austen. Thursday 15 Sept. 1796
Address : Miss Austen | Steventon | Overton J Hants
Postmark : 17 se 96
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°
Brabourne i. 141 ; Life 102 (extracts). One sentence unpublished.
Rowling : Thursday 15 th Sep tr
My dear Cassandra
We have been very gay since I wrote last ; dining
at Nackington, returning by Moonlight, and every-
thing quite in Stile, not to mention Mr. Claringbould’s
Funeral which we saw go by on Sunday. I beleive
I told you in a former Letter that Edward had some
idea of taking the name of Claringbould ; but that
scheme is over, tho’ it would be a very eligible as well
as a very pleasant plan, would any one advance him
Money enough to begin on. We rather expected
Mr. Milles to have done so on Tuesday ; but to our
great Surprise, nothing was said on the subject, and
unless it is in your power to assist your Brother with
five or six Hundred pounds, he must entirely give up
the idea. At Nackington we met Lady Sondes’ picture
over the Mantlepeice in the Dining room, and the
pictures of her three Children in an Antiroom, besides
( 13 )
6] From Rowling to Steventon
Mr. Scott, Miss Fletcher, Mr. Toke, Mr. J. Toke, and
the Archdeacon Lynch. Miss Fletcher and I were very
thick, but I am the thinnest of the two — She wore her
purple Muslin, which is pretty enough, tho’ it does
not become her complexion. There are two Traits in
her character which are pleasing ; namely, she admires
Camilla, & drinks no cream in her Tea. If you should
ever see Lucy, You may tell her, that I scolded Miss
Fletcher for her negligence in writing, as she desired
me to do, but without being able to bring her to any
proper sense of Shame — That Miss Fletcher says in her
defence that as every Body whom Lucy knew when
she was in Canterbury, has now left it, she has nothing
at all to write to her about. By Everybody, I suppose
Miss Fletcher means that a new set of Officers have
arrived there — . But this is a note of my own. — Mrs.
Milles, Mr. John Toke, & in short everybody of any
Sensibility enquired in tender Strains after You ; and
I took an opportunity of assuring Mr. J. T. that neither
he nor his Father need longer keep themselves single
for You — . We went in our two Carriages to Nacking-
ton ; but how We divided, I shall leave you to surmise,
merely observing that as Eliz: and I were without Hat
or Bonnet, it would not have been very convenient
for us to go in the Chair. — We went by Bifrons, & I
contemplated with a melancholy pleasure, the abode
of Him, on whom I once fondly doated. — We dine to-
day at Goodnestone, to meet my Aunt Fielding from
Margate, and a Mr. Clayton, her professed Admirer ;
at least so I imagine. Lady Bridges has received very
good accounts of Marianne, who is already certainly
the better for her Bathing. — So — his royal Highness
Sir Thomas Williams has at length sailed — ; the
( 14 )
Thursday 15 September 1796 [6
Papers say ‘ on a Cruize.’ But I hope they are gone
to Cork, or I shall have written in vain. Give my
Love to Jane, as she arrived at Steventon Yesterday,
I dare say. I sent a message to Mr. Digweed from
Edward, in a letter to Mary Lloyd, which she ought to
receive today ; but as I know that the Harwoods are
not very exact as to their Letters, I may as well repeat
it to You — . Mr. Digweed is to be informed that Ill-
ness has prevented Seward’s coming over to look at
the intended Repairs at the Farm, but that he will
come, as soon as he can. Mr. Digweed may also be
informed if you think proper, that Mr. & Mrs. Milles
are to dine here tomorrow, and that Mrs. Joan Knatch-
bull is to be asked to meet them. — Mr. Richard
Harvey’s match is put off till he has got a Better
Christian name, of which he has great Hopes. Mr.
Children’s two Sons are both going to be married,
John & George — . They are to have one wife between
them ; a Miss Holwell, who belongs to the Black Hole
at Calcutta. — I depend on hearing from James very
soon ; he promised me an account of the Ball, and by
this time he must have collected his Ideas enough,
after the fatigue of dancing, to give me one. Edward
& Fly went out yesterday very early in a couple of
Shooting Jackets, and came home like a couple of
Bad Shots, for they killed nothing at all. They are
out again today, & are not yet returned. Delightful
Sport ! — They are just come home ; Edward with his
two Brace, Frank with his Two and a half. What
amiable Young Men !
Friday — Your Letter & one from Henry are just
come, and the contents of both accord with my
Scheme more than I had dared expect — In one par-
( 15 )
6] From Rowling to Steventon
ticular I could wish it otherwise, for Henry is very
indifferent indeed — . You must not expect us quite
so early however as Wednesday the 20 th — on that day
se’night according to our present plan we may be with
You. Frank had never any idea of going away before
Monday the 26 th . I shall write to Miss Pearson imme-
diately & press her returning with us, which Henry
thinks very likely, & particularly eligible.
Buy Mary Harrison’s Gown by all means. You
shall have mine for ever so much money, tho’ if I am
tolerably rich when I get home, I shall like it very
much myself.
Till we know whether she accompanies us or not,
we can say nothing in reply to my Father’s kind
offer — .
As to the mode of our travelling to Town, 1 want to
go in a Stage Coach, but Frank will not let me. As
you are likely to have the Williams’ & Lloyds with you
next week, you would hardly find room for us then.
If anybody wants anything in Town, they must
send their Commissions to Frank, as I shall merely
pass thro’ it. — The Tallow Chandler is Penlington, at
the Crown & Beehive Charles Street, Covent Garden.
7. To Cassandra Austen. Sunday 18 Sept. 1796
Address t Miss Austen I Steventon I Overton J Hants
Postmark : 19 se 96
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°
Brabourne i. 146 ; Life 103 (extracts).
Rowling : Sunday 18 th Sept r
My dear Cassandra
This morning has been spent in Doubt & Delibera-
tion ; in forming plans, and removing Difficulties, for
( 16 )
i
\
c*>
/ 1
Sunday 18 September 1790
[7
it ushered in the Day with an Event which I had not
intended should take place so soon by a week. Frank
has rec d his appointment on Board the Captain John
Gore, commanded by the Triton, and will therefore
be obliged to be in Town on Wednesday — and tho’ I
have every Disposition in the world to accompany him
on that day, I cannot go on the Uncertainty of the
Pearsons being at Home ; as I should not have a
place to go to, in case they were from Home. I wrote
to Miss P. on friday, and hoped to receive an answer
from her this morning, which would have rendered
everything smooth and Easy, and would have enabled
us to leave this place to-morrow, as Frank on first
receiving his Appointment, intended to do. He re-
mains till Wednesday merely to accomodate me. I
have written to her again to-day and desired her to
answer it by return of post — On Tuesday therefore I
shall positively know whether they can receive me on
Wednesday — If they cannot, Edward has been so
good as to promise to take me to Greenwich on the
Monday following which was the day before fixed on,
if that suits them better — . If I have no answer at all
on Tuesday, I must suppose Mary is not at Home, and
must wait till I do hear ; as after having invited her to
go to Steventon with me, it will not quite do, to go
home and say no more about it. —
My Father will be so good as to fetch home his
prodigal Daughter from Town, I hope, unless he wishes
me to walk the Hospitals, Enter at the Temple, or
mount Guard at St. James. It will hardly be in
Frank’s power to take me home ; nay, it certainly
will not. I shall write again as soon as I get to Green-
wich. —
(17)
c
7]
From Rowling to Steventon
What dreadful Hot weather we have ! — It keeps one
in a continual state of Inelegance. — If Miss Pearson
should return with me, pray be careful not to expect
too much Beauty. I will not pretend to say that on a
first vciw, she quite answered the opinion I had formed
of her. — My Mother I am sure will be disappointed, if
she does not take great care. From what I remember
of her picture, it is no great resemblance. I am very
glad that the idea of returning with Frank occurred
to me, for as to Henry’s coming into Kent again, the
time of its taking place is so very uncertain, that I
should be waiting for Dead-men' s Shoes.
I had once determined to go with Frank to-morrow
and take my chance &c. ; but they dissuaded me from
so rash a step — as I really think on consideration it
would have been ; for if the Pearsons were not at home,
I should inevitably fall a Sacrifice to the arts of some
fat Woman who would make me drunk with Small
Beer. —
Mary is brought to bed of a Boy ; both doing very
well. I shall leave you to guess what Mary, I mean. —
Adieu, with best Love to all your agreable Inmates.
Do not let the Lloyds go on any account before I
return, unless Miss P. is of the party.
How ill I have written. I begin to hate myself.
Yrs ever,
J: Austen
*
The Triton is a new 32 Frigate, just launched at
Deptford. — Frank is much pleased with the prospect
of having Capt: Gore under his command.
( 18 )
Sunday 8 April 1798 [a
8. (To Philadelphia Walter). Sunday 8 April <1798)
No address or postmark.
Rev. R. G. Binnall. One leaf 4°, the other leaf lost.
Not published.
Steventon Sunday April 8 th
<1798 in another hand)
My dear Cousin
As Cassandra is at present from home, you must
accept from my pen, our sincere Condolance on the
melancholy Event which M rs Humphries Letter an-
nounced to my Father this morning— The loss of so
kind & affectionate a Parent, must be a very severe
affliction to all his Children, to yourself more especially,
as your constant residence with him has given you so
much the more constant & intimate Knowledge of his
Virtues —But the very circumstance which at present
enhances your loss, must gradually reconcile you to
it the better ; the Goodness which made him valuable
on Earth, will make him Blessed in Heaven.— This
consideration must bring comfort to yourself, to my
Aunt, & to all his family & friends ; & this comfort
must be heightened by the consideration of the little
Enjoyment he was able to receive from this World
for some time past, & of the small degree of pain
attending his last hours. I will not press you to
write before you would otherwise feel equal to it,
but when you can do it without pain, I hope we shall
receive from you as good an account of my Aunt &
yourself, as can be expected in these early days of
Sorrow. My Father & Mother join me in every kind
wish, & I am my dear Cousin,
Yours affec: tel y
Jane Austen
( 19 )
9] From Dartford to Godmersham
9. To Cassandra Austen. Wednesday 24 Oct. <1798)
Address (Brabourne) : Miss Austen, Godmersham Park, Faversham
Original not traced.
Brabourne i. 153 ; Life 109 (extracts).
* Bull and George,’ Dartford :
Wednesday October 24
My dear Cassandra
You have already heard from Daniel, I conclude, in
what excellent time we reached and quitted Sitting-
bourne, and how very well my mother bore her journey
thither. I am now able to send you a continuation
of the same good account of her. She was very little
fatigued on her arrival at this place, has been refreshed
by a comfortable dinner, and now seems quite stout.
It wanted five minutes of twelve when we left Sitting-
bourne, from whence we had a famous pair of horses,
which took us to Rochester in an hour and a quarter ;
the postboy seemed determined to show my mother
that Kentish drivers were not always tedious, and
really drove as fast as Cax.
Our next stage was not quite so expeditiously per-
formed ; the road was heavy and our horses very
indifferent. However, we were in such good time, and
my mother bore her journey so well, that expedition
was of little importance to us ; and as it was, we were
very little more than two hours and a half coming
hither, and it was scarcely past four when we stopped
at the inn. My mother took some of her bitters at
Ospringe, and some more at Rochester, and she ate
some bread several times.
We have got apartments up two pair of stairs, as
we could not be otherwise accommodated with a
( 20 )
Wednesday 24 October 1798
[9
sitting-room and bed-chambers on the same floor,
which we wished to be. We have one double-bedded
and one single-bedded room ; in the former my mother
and I are to sleep. I shall leave you to guess who is to
occupy the other. We sate down to dinner a little
after five, and had some beef-steaks and a boiled fowl,
but no oyster sauce.
I should have begun my letter soon after our arrival
but for a little adventure which prevented me. After
we had been here a quarter of an hour it was dis-
covered that my writing and dressing boxes had been
by accident put into a chaise which was just packing
off as we came in, and were driven away towards
Gravesend in their way to the West Indies. No part
of my property could have been such a prize before,
for in my writing-box was all my worldly wealth, 7l. f
and my dear Harry’s deputation. Mr. Nottley im-
mediately despatched a man and horse after the chaise,
and in half an hour’s time I had the pleasure of being
as rich as ever ; they were got about two or three
miles off.
My day’s journey has been pleasanter in every
respect than I expected. I have been very little
crowded and by no means unhappy. Your watchful-
ness with regard to the weather on our accounts was
very kind and very effectual. We had one heavy
shower on leaving Sittingbourne, but afterwards the
clouds cleared away, and we had a very bright chrystal
afternoon.
My father is now reading the * Midnight Bell,’ which
he has got from the library, and mother sitting by the
fire. Our route to-morrow is not determined. We
have none of us much inclination for London, and if
( 21 )
9] From Dartford to Godmersham
Mr. Nottley will give us leave, I think we shall go to
Staines through Croydon and Kingston, which will be
much pleasanter than any other way ; but he is
decidedly for Clapham and Battersea. God bless
you all !
Yours affectionately,
J. A.
I flatter myself that itty Dordy will not forget me at
least under a week. Kiss him for me.
10. To Cassandra Austen. Saturday 27 Oct. <1798>
■
Address : Miss Austen, Godmersham Park, Faversham, Kent
Mrs. R. E. Hartz. For passages omitted here see p. 508,
Brabourne i. 156 ; Life 111 (extracts).
Steventon : Saturday October 27
My dear Cassandra
Your letter was a most agreeable surprise to me
to-day, and I have taken a long sheet of paper to show
my gratitude.
We arrived here yesterday between four and five,
but I cannot send you quite so triumphant an account
of our last day’s journey as of the first and second.
Soon after I had finished my letter from Staines, my
mother began to suffer from the exercise & fatigue of
travelling so far, and she was a good deal indisposed.
She had not a very good night at Staines, but bore her
journey better than I had expected, and at Basing-
stoke, where we stopped more than half an hour,
received much comfort from a mess of broth and the
sight of Mr. Lyford, who recommended her to take
twelve drops of laudanum when she went to bed as
a composer, which she accordingly did.
( 22 )
Saturday 27 October 1798 [10
James called on us just as we were going to tea, and
my mother was well enough to talk very cheerfully to
him before she went to bed. James seems to have
taken to his old trick of coming to Steventon in spite
of Mary’s reproaches, for he was here before breakfast
and is now paying us a second visit. They were to
have dined here to-day, but the weather is too bad.
I have had the pleasure of hearing that Martha is with
them. James fetched her from Ibthorp on Thursday,
and she will stay with them till she removes to
Kintbury.
We met with no adventures at all in our journey
yesterday, except that our trunk had once nearly
slipped off, and we were obliged to stop at Hartley to
have our wheels greased.
Whilst my mother and Mr. Lyford were together
I went to Mrs. Ryder’s and bought what I intended
to buy, but not in much perfection. There were no
narrow braces for children and scarcely any notting
silk ; but Miss Wood, as usual, is going to town very
soon, and will lay in a fresh stock. I gave 2s. 3d.
a yard for my flannel, and I fancy it is not very good,
but it is so disgraceful and contemptible an article in
itself that its being comparatively good or bad is of
little importance. I bought some Japan ink likewise,
and next week shall begin my operations on my hat,
on which you know my principal hopes of happiness
depend.
I am very grand indeed ; I had the dignity of
dropping out my mother’s laudanum last night. I
carry about the keys of the wine and closet, and twice
since I began this letter have had orders to give in the
kitchen. Our dinner was very good yesterday, and
(23) '
10] From Steventon to Godmersham
the chicken boiled perfectly tender ; therefore I shall
not be obliged to dismiss Nanny on that account.
Almost everything was unpacked and put away
last night. Nanny chose to do it, and X was not sorry
to be busy. I have unpacked the gloves and placed
yours in your drawer. Their colour is light and pretty,
and I believe exactly what we fixed on.
Your letter was chaperoned here by one from Mrs.
Cooke, in which she says that ‘ Battleridge ’ is not to
come out before January, and she is so little satisfied
with Cawthorn’s dilatoriness that she never means to
employ him again.
Mrs. Hall, of Sherborne, was brought to bed yester-
day of a dead child, some weeks before she expected,
owing to a fright. I suppose she happened unawares
to look at her husband.
There has been a great deal of rain here for this last
fortnight, much more than in Kent, and indeed we
found the roads all the way from Staines most disgrace-
fully dirty. Steventon lane has its full share of it, and
I don’t know when I shall be able to get to Deane.
I hear that Martha is in better looks and spirits than
she has enjoyed for a long time, and I flatter myself
she will now be able to jest openly about Mr. W.
The spectacles which Molly found are my mother’s,
the scissors my father’s. We are very glad to hear
such a good account of your patients, little and great.
My dear itty Dordy’s remembrance of me is very
pleasing to me — foolishly pleasing, because I know it
will be over so soon. My attachment to him will be
more durable. I shall think with tenderness and
delight on his beautiful and smiling countenance and
interesting manners till a few years have turned him
( 24 )
[10
Saturday 27 October 1798
into an ungovernable, ungracious fellow.
The books from Winton are all unpacked and put
away ; the binding has compressed them most con-
veniently, and there is now very good room in the
bookcase for all that we wish to have there. I believe
the servants were very glad to see us. Nanny was,
I am sure. She confesses that it was very dull, and yet
she had her child with her till last Sunday. I under-
stand that there are some grapes left, but I believe not
many ; they must be gathered as soon as possible, or
this rain will entirely rot them.
I am quite angry with myself for not writing closer ;
why is my alphabet so much more sprawly than
yours ? Dame Tilbury’s daughter has lain in. Shall
I give her any of your baby clothes ? The laceman
was here only a few days ago. How unfortunate for
both of us that he came so soon ! Dame Bushell
washes for us only one week more, as Sukey has got
a place. John Steevens’ wife undertakes our purifica-
tion. She does not look as if anything she touched
would ever be clean, but who knows ? We do not
seem likely to have any other maidservant at present,
but Dame Staples will supply the place of one. Mary
has hired a young girl from Ashe who has never been
out to service to be her scrub, but James fears her not
being strong enough for the place.
Earle Harwood has been to Deane lately, as I think
Mary wrote us word, and his family then told him
that they would receive his wife, if she continued to
behave well for another year. He was very grateful,
as well he might ; their behaviour throughout the
whole affair has been particularly kind. Earle and
his wife live in the most private manner imaginable at
( 25 )
10] From Steventon to Godmersham
Portsmouth, without keeping a servant of any kind.
What a prodigious innate love of virtue she must have,
to marry under such circumstances !
It is now Saturday evening, but I wrote the chief
of this in the morning. My mother has not been down
at all to-day ; the laudanum made her sleep a good
deal, and upon the whole I think she is better. My
father and I dined by ourselves. How strange ! He
and John Bond are now very happy together, for
I have just heard the heavy step of the latter along
the passage.
James Digweed called to-day, and I gave him his
brother’s deputation. Charles Harwood, too, has just
called to ask how we are, in his way from Dummer,
whither he has been conveying Miss Garrett, who is
going to return to her former residence in Kent. I will
leave off, or I shall not have room to add a word to-
morrow.
Sunday . — My mother has had a very good night,
and feels much better to-day.
I have received my Aunt’s letter, and thank you
for your scrap. I will write to Charles soon. Pray
give Fanny and Edward a kiss from me, and ask
George if he has got a new song for me. ’Tis really
very kind of my Aunt to ask us to Bath again ; a
kindness that deserves a better return than to profit
by it.
Yours ever,
J. A.
( 26 )
Saturday 17 November 1798
[11
11. To Cassandra Austen. Saturday 17 Nov. 1798
Address (Brabourne) : Miss Austen, Godmersham
Original not traced.
Brabourne i. 1C2 ; Life 84, 113 (extracts).
Saturday, November 17, 1798.
My dear Cassandra
If you paid any attention to the conclusion of my
last letter, you will be satisfied, before you receive
this, that my mother has had no relapse, and that
Miss Debary comes. The former continues to recover,
and though she does not gain strength very rapidly,
my expectations are humble enough not to outstride
her improvements. She was able to sit up nearly
eight hours yesterday, and to-day I hope we shall do
as much. ... So much for my patient — now for myself.
Mrs. Lefroy did come last Wednesday, and the
Harwoods came likewise, but very considerately paid
their visit before Mrs. Lefroy’s arrival, with whom, in
spite of interruptions both from my father and James,
I was enough alone to hear all that was interesting,
which you will easily credit when I tell you that of her
nephew she said nothing at all, and of her friend very
little. She did not once mention the name of the
former to me, and I was too proud to make any en-
quiries ; but on my father’s afterwards asking where
he was, I learnt that he was gone back to London in
his way to Ireland, where he is called to the Bar and
means to practise.
She showed me a letter which she had received from
her friend a few weeks ago (in answer to one written
by her to recommend a nephew of Mrs. Russell to his
notice at Cambridge), towards the end of which was
(27)
11] From Steventon to Godmer sham
a sentence to this effect : 4 1 am very sorry to hear of
Mrs. Austen’s illness. It would give me particular
pleasure to have an opportunity of improving my
acquaintance with that family with a hope of
creating to myself a nearer interest. But at present
I cannot indulge any expectation of it.’ This is
rational enough ; there is less love and more sense in
it than sometimes appeared before, and I am very
well satisfied. It will all go on exceedingly well, and
decline away in a very reasonable manner. There
seems no likelihood of his coming into Hampshiie this
Christmas, and it is therefore most probable that our
indifference will soon be mutual, unless his regard,
which appeared to spring from knowing nothing of me
at first, is best supported by never seeing me.
Mrs. Lefroy made no remarks on the letter, nor did
she indeed say anything about him as relative to me.
Perhaps she thinks she has said too much already. She
saw a great deal of the Mapletons while she was in
Bath. Christian is still in a very bad state of health,
consumptive, and not likely to recover.
Mrs. Portman is not much admired in Dorsetshire ;
the good-natured world, as usual, extolled her beauty
so highly, that all the neighbourhood have had the
pleasure of being disappointed.
My mother desires me to tell you that I am a very
good housekeeper, which I have no reluctance in
doing, because I really think it my peculiar excellence,
and for this reason — I always take care to provide
such things as please my own appetite, which I con-
sider as the chief merit in housekeeping. I have had
some ragout veal, and I mean to have some haricot
mutton to-morrow. We are to kill a pig soon.
( 28 )
Saturday 17 November 1798 in
There is to be a ball at Basingstoke next Thursday.
Our assemblies have very kindly declined ever since
we laid down the carriage, so that dis-convenience and
dis-inclination to go have kept pace together.
My father’s affection for Miss Cuthbert is as lively
as ever, and he begs that you will not neglect to send
him intelligence of her or her brother, whenever you
have any to send. I am likewise to tell you that one
of his Leicestershire sheep, sold to the butcher last
week, weighed 27 lb. and \ per quarter.
I went to Deane with my father two days ago to see
Mary, w'ho is still plagued with the rheumatism, which
she would be very glad to get rid of, and still more
glad to get rid of her child, of whom she is hcartilv
tired. Her nurse is come, and has no particular charm
either of person or manner ; but as all the Hurst-
bourne world pronounce her to be the best nurse that
ever was, Mary expects her attachment to increase.
What fine weather this is ! Not very becoming
perhaps early in the morning, but very pleasant out of
doors at noon, and very wholesome — at least every-
body fancies so, and imagination is everything. To
Edward, however, I really think dry weather of im-
portance. I have not taken to fires yet.
I believe I never told you that Mrs. Coulthard and
Anne, late of Manydown, are both dead, and both
died in childbed. We have not regaled Mary with this
news. Harry St. John is in Orders, has done duty at
Ashe, and performs very well.
I am very fond of experimental housekeeping, such
as having an ox-cheek now and then ; I shall have one
next week, and I mean to have some little dumplings
put into it, that I may fancy myself at Godmersham.
(29)
11] From Steventon to Godmersham
I hope George was pleased with my designs. Per-
haps they would have suited him as well had they
been less elaborately finished ; but an artist cannot
do anything slovenly. I suppose baby grows and
improves.
Sunday . — I have just received a note from James
to say that Mary was brought to bed last night, at
eleven o’clock, of a fine little boy, and that everything
is going on very well. My mother had desired to know
nothing of it before it should be all over, and we were
clever enough to prevent her having any suspicion of
it, though Jenny, who had been left here by her
mistress, was sent for home. ...
I called yesterday on Betty Londe, who enquired
particularly after you, and said she seemed to miss
you very much, because you used to call in upon her
very often. This was an oblique reproach at me.
which I am sorry to have merited, and from which I
will profit. I shall send George another picture when
I write next, which I suppose will be soon, on Mary’s
account. My mother continues well.
Yours,
J. A.
12. To Cassandra Austen. Sunday 25 Nov. <1798>
Address (Brabourne) : Miss Austen, Godmersham Park
Original not traced.
Brabourne i, 167 ; Life 113 (extracts).
Steventon : Sunday November 25
My dear Sister
I expected to have heard from you this morning,
but no letter is come. I shall not take the trouble of
announcing to you any more of Mary’s children, if,
(30)
Sunday 25 November 1798 [12
instead of thanking me for the intelligence, you always
sit down and write to Janies, I am sure nobody can
desire your letters so much as I do, and I don’t think
anybody deserves them so well.
Having now relieved my heart of a great deal of
malevolence, I will proceed to tell you that Mary con-
tinues quite well, and my mother tolerably so. I saw
the former on Friday, and though I had seen her
comparatively hearty the Tuesday before, I was really
amazed at the improvement which three days had
made in her. She looked well, her spirits were per-
fectly good, and she spoke much more vigorously
than Elizabeth did when we left Godmersham. I had
only a glimpse at the child, who was asleep ; but Miss
Debary told me that his eyes were large, dark, and
handsome. She looks much as she used to do, is
netting herself a gown in worsteds, and wears what
Mrs. Birch would call a pot hat. A short and com-
pendious history of Miss Debary !
I suppose you have heard from Henry himself that
his affairs are happily settled. We do not know who
furnishes the qualification. Mr. Mowell would have
readily given it, had not all his Oxfordshire property
been engaged for a similar purpose to the Colonel.
Amusing enough !
Our family affairs are rather deranged at present,
for Nanny has kept her bed these three or four days,
with a pain in her side and fever, and we are forced to
have two charwomen, which is not very comfortable.
She is considerably better now, but it must still be
some time, I suppose, before she is able to do anything.
You and Edward will be amused, I think, when you
know that Nanny Littlewart dresses my hair.
(31)
12] From Steventon to Godmersham
The ball on Thursday was a very small one indeed,
hardly so large as an Oxford smack. There were but
seven couples, and only twenty-seven people in the
room.
The Overton Scotchman has been kind enough to
rid me of some of my money, in exchange for six shifts
and four pair of stockings. The Irish is not so fine as
I should like it ; but as I gave as much money for it as
I intended, I have no reason to complain. It cost me
3s. 6d. per yard. It is rather finer, however, than our
last, and not so harsh a cloth.
We have got ‘ Fitz-Albini ; ’ my father has bought
it against my private wishes, for it does not quite
satisfy my feelings that we should purchase the only
one of Egerton’s works of which his family are
ashamed. That these scruples, however, do not at all
interfere with my reading it, you will easily believe.
We have neither of us yet finished the first volume.
My father is disappointed — I am not, for I expected
nothing better. Never did any book carry more
internal evidence of its author. Every sentiment is
completely Egerton’s. There is very little story, and
what there is told in a strange, unconnected way.
There are many characters introduced, apparently
merely to be delineated. We have not been able to
recognise any of them hitherto, except Dr. and
Mrs. Hey and Mr. Oxenden, who is not very tenderly
treated.
You must tell Edward that my father gives 25s.
a piece to Seward for his last lot of sheep, and, in
return for this news, my father wishes to receive some
of Edward’s pigs.
We have got Boswell’s ‘ Tour to the Hebrides,’ and
(32)
Sunday 25 November 1798 rj2
are to have his ‘ Life of Johnson ; ’ and, as some
money will yet remain in Burdon’s hands, it is to be
laid out in the purchase of Cowper’s works. This
would please Mr. Clarke, could he know it.
By the bye, I have written to Mrs. Birch among my
other writings, and so I hope to have some account of
all the people in that part of the world before long.
I have written to Mrs. E. Leigh too, and Mrs. Heathcote
has been ill-natured enough to send me a letter of
enquiry ; so that altogether I am tolerably tired of
letter-writing, and, unless I have anything new to tell
you of my mother or Mary, I shall not write again
for many days ; perhaps a little repose may restore my
regard for a pen. Ask little Edward whether Bob
Brown wears a great coat this cold weather.
13. To Cassandra Austen. < Saturday ) l Bee. <1798)
Address (Brabourne) : Miss Austen, Godmersham Park, Faversham
Original not traced.
Brabourne i. 171 ; Life 115 (extracts).
Steventon : December 1.
My dear Cassandra
I am so good as to write to you again thus speedily,
to let you know that I have just heard from Frank.
He was at Cadiz, alive and well, on October 19, and had
then very lately received a letter from you, written as
long ago as when the ‘ London ' was at St. Helen’s.
But his raly latest intelligence of us was in one from
me of September 1, which I sent soon after we got to
Godmersham. He had written a packet full for his
dearest friends in England, early in October, to go by
the Excellent ; but the 4 Excellent ’ was not sailed,
13 ] From Steventon to Godmersham
nor likely to sail, when he despatched this to me. It
comprehended letters for both of us, for Lord Spencer,
Mr. Daysh, and the East India Directors. Lord
St. Vincent had left the fleet when he wrote, and was
gone to Gibraltar, it was said to superintend the
fitting out of a private expedition from thence against
some of the enemies’ ports ; Minorca or Malta were
conjectured to be the objects.
Frank writes in good spirits, but says that our
correspondence cannot be so easily carried on in future
as it has been, as the communication between Cadiz
and Lisbon is less frequent than formerly. You and
my mother, therefore, must not alarm yourselves at
the long intervals that may divide his letters. I ad-
dress this advice to you two as being the most tender-
hearted of the family.
My mother made her entree into the dressing-room
through crowds of admiring spectators yesterday after-
noon, and we all drank tea together for the first time
these five weeks. She has had a tolerable night, and
bids fair for a continuance in the same brilliant course
of action to-day. . . .
Mr. Lyford was here yesterday ; he came while we
were at dinner, and partook of our elegant entertain-
ment. I was not ashamed at asking him to sit down
to table, for we had some pease-soup, a sparerib, and
a pudding. He wants my mother to look yellow and to
throw out a rash, but she will do neither.
I was at Deane yesterday morning.. Mary was very
well, but does not gain bodily strength very fast.
When I saw her so stout on the third and sixth days,
I expected to have seen her as well as ever by the end
of a fortnight.
( 34 )
Saturday 1 December 1798 ns
J“ ent t0 Ibthorp yesterday to see his mother
and child. Letty is with Mary at present, of course
exceedingly happy, and in raptures with the child.
Mary does not manage matters in such a way as to
make me want to lay in myself. She is not tidy enough
in her appearance ; she has no dressing-gown to sit up
in ; her curtains are all too thin, and things are not in
that comfort and style about her which are necessary
to make such a situation an enviable one. Elizabeth
was really a pretty object with her nice clean cap put
on so tidily and her dress so uniformly white and
orderly. We live entirely in the dressing-room now,
which I like very much ; I always feel so much more
elegant in it than in the parlour*
No news from Kintbury yet. Eliza sports with our
impatience. She was very well last Thursday. Who
is Miss Maria Montresor going to marry, and what is
to become of Miss Mulcaster ?
I find great comfort in my stuff gown, but I hope
you do not wear yours too often. I have made
myself two or three caps to wear of evenings since
I came home, and they save me a world of torment as
to hair-dressing, which at present gives me no trouble
beyond washing and brushing, for my long hair is
always plaited up out of sight, and my short hair
curls well enough to want no papering. I have had
it cut lately by Mr, Butler*
There is no reason to suppose that Miss Morgan is
dead after all. Mr. Lyford gratified us very much
yesterday by his praises of my father’s mutton, which
they all think the finest that was ever ate. John Bond
begins to find himself grow old, which John Bonds
ought not to do, and unequal to much hard work • a
(35)
13 ]
From Steventon to Godmersham
man. is therefore hired to supply his place as to labour,
and John himself is to have the care of the sheep.
There are not more people engaged than before, I
believe ; only men instead of boys. I fancy so at
least, but you know my stupidity as to such matters.
Lizzie Bond is just apprenticed to Miss Small, so we
may hope to see her able to spoil gowns in a few years.
My father has applied to Mr. May for an alehouse
for Robert, at his request, and to Mr. Deane, of Win-
chester, likewise. This was my mother’s idea, who
thought he would be proud to oblige a relation of
Edward in return for Edward’s accepting his money.
He sent a very civil answer indeed, but has no house
vacant at present. May expects to have an empty one
soon at Farnham, so perhaps Nanny may have the
honour of drawing ale for the Bishop. I shall write to
Frank to-morrow.
Charles Powlett gave a dance on Thursday, to the
great disturbance of all his neighbours, of course, who,
you know, take a most lively interest in the state of
his finances, and live in hopes of his being soon ruined.
We are very much disposed to like our new maid ;
she knows nothing of a dairy, to be sure, which, in our
family, is rather against her, but she is to be taught it
all. In short, we have felt the inconvenience of being
without a maid so long, that we are determined to like
her, and she will find it a hard matter to displease us.
As yet, she seems to cook very well, is uncommonly
stout, and says she can work well at her needle.
Sunday. — My father is glad to hear so good an ac-
count of Edward’s pigs, and desires he may be told,
as encouragement to his taste for them, that Lord
Bolton is particularly curious in his pigs, has had
( 36 )
Saturday 1 December 1798 [13
pigstyes of a most elegant construction built for them,
and visits them every morning as soon as he rises.
Affectionately yours,
J. A.
14. To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday 18 Dec. 1798
Address : Miss Austen | Godmersham Park | Faversham I Kent
Postmark : 20 de 98
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°
Brabourne i. 176 ; Life 116 (extracts). A few words unpublished*
Steventon Tuesday Dec r 18 th
My dear Cassandra
Your letter came quite as soon as I expected, and
so your letters will always do, because I have made it
a rule not to expect them till they come, in which I
think I consult the ease of us both. — It is a great satis-
faction to us to hear that your Business is in a way to
be settled, & so settled as to give you as little incon-
venience as possible. Y ou are very welcome to my
father s name, & to his Services if they are ever
required in it. — I shall keep my ten pounds too to
wrap myself up in next winter. — I took the liberty
a few days ago of asking your Black velvet Bonnet to
lend me its cawl, which it very readily did, & by which
I have been enabled to give a considerable improve-
ment of dignity to my Cap, which was before too
nidgetty to please me— I shall wear it on Thursday,
but I hope you will not be offended with me for follow-
ing your advice as to its ornaments only in part.
I still venture to retain the narrow silver round it, put
twice round without any bow, & instead of the black
military feather shall put in the Coquelicot one, as
being smarter ; — & besides Coquelicot is to be all the
(37)
14] From Steventon to Godmersham
fashion this winter. — After the Ball, I shall probably
make it entirely black. — I am sorry that our dear
Charles begins to feel the Dignity of Ill-usage. — -My
father will write to Admiral Gambier. — lie must
already have received so much satisfaction from his
acquaintance & Patronage of Frank, that he will be
delighted I dare say to have another of the family
introduced to him. — I think it would be very right in
Charles to address Sir Tho 8 on the occasion ; tho’ I
cannot approve of your scheme of writing to him
(which you communicated to me a few nights ago) to
request him to come home & convey you to Steventon.
— To do you justice however, you had some doubts
of the propriety of such a measure yourself. — I am very
much obliged to my dear little George for his message,
for his Love at least ; — his Duty I suppose was only in
consequence of some hint of my favourable intentions
towards him from his father or Mother. — I am sin-
cerely rejoiced however that I ever was born, since it
has been the means of procuring him a dish of Tea. —
Give my best Love to him. This morning has been
made very gay to us, by visits from our two lively
Neighbours Mr. Holder & Mr. John Harwood. I have
received a very civil note from Mrs. Martin requesting
my name as a Subscriber to her Library which opens
the 14 th of January, & my name, or rather Yours is
accordingly given. My Mother finds the Money.
Mary subscribes too, which I am glad of, but hardly
expected. — As an inducement to subscribe Mrs. Martin
tells us that her Collection is not to consist only of
Novels, but of every kind of Literature, &c. &c — She
might have spared this pretension to our family, who
are great Novel-readers & not ashamed of being so ; —
( 38 )
Tuesday 18 December 1798 [14
but it was necessary I suppose to the self-consequence
of half her Subscribers —I hope & imagine that
Edward Taylor is to inherit all Sir Edw: Dering’s
fortune as well as all his own father’s. — I took care to
tell Mrs. Lefroy of your calling on her Mother, & she
seemed pleased with it.— I enjoyed the hard black
Frosts of last week very much, & one day while they
lasted walked to Deane by myself. — I do not know
that I ever did such a thing in my life before.— Charles
Powlett has been very ill, but is getting well again ;—
his wife is discovered to be everything that the Neigh-
bourhood could wish her, silly & cross as well as
extravagant. Earle Harwood & his friend Mr. Bailey
came to Deane yesterday, but are not to stay above
a day or two. — Earle has got the appointment to
a Prison ship at Portsmouth, which he has been for
some time desirous of having ; & he & his wife are to
live on board for the future. — We dine now at half
after Three, & have done dinner I suppose before you
begin— We drink tea at half after six.— I am afraid
you will despise us. — My father reads Cowper to us in
the evening, to which I listen when I can. How do you
spend your Evenings ? — I guess that Eliz‘ h works, that
you read to her, & that Edward goes to sleep.— My
mother continues hearty, her appetite & nights are
very good, but her Bowels are still not entirely settled,
& she sometimes complains of an Asthma, a Dropsy,
Water in her Chest & a Liver Disorder. The third
Miss Irish Lefroy is going to be married to a Mr.
Courteney, but whether James or Charles I do not
know.— Miss Lyford is gone into Suffolk with her
Brother & Miss Lodge — . Everybody is now very
busy in making up an income for the two latter. Miss
( 39 )
14] From Steventon to Godmersham
Lodge has only 800£ of her own, & it is not supposed
that her Father can give her much, therefore the good
offices of the Neighbourhood will be highly acceptable.
John Lyford means to take pupils. — James Digweed
has had a very ugly cut — how could it happen ? It
happened by a young horse which he had lately pur-
chased, & which he was trying to back into its stable ;
—the animal kicked him down with his forefeet, &
kicked a great hole in his head he scrambled away
as soon as he could, but was stunned for a time,
& suffered a good deal of pain afterwards. Yesterday
he got up the Horse again, & for fear of something
worse, was forced to throw himself off. — W ednesday.
I have changed my mind, & changed the trimmings of
my Cap this morning ; they are now such as you
suggested;— I felt as if I should not prosper if I
strayed from your directions, & I think it makes me
look more like Lady Conyngham now than it did
before, which is all that one lives for now.— I beleive
I shall make my new gown like my robe, but the back
of the latter is all in a peice with the tail, & will 7 yards
enable me to copy it in that respect ? Mary went to
Church on Sunday, & had the "weather been smiling,
we should have seen her here before this time.
Perhaps I may stay at Manydown as long as Monday,
but not longer — Martha sends me word that she is too
busy to write to me now, and but for your letter I
should have supposed her deep in the study of
Medecine preparatory to their removal from Ibthrop.
The letter to Gambier goes today. — I expect a very
stupid Ball, there will be nobody worth dancing with,
& nobody worth talking to but Catherine ; for I
believe Mrs. Lefroy will not be there ; Lucy is to go
( 40 )
Tuesday 18 December 1798 [14
with Mrs. Russell. — People get so horridly poor &
economical in this part of the World, that I have no
patience with them. — Kent is the only place for happi-
ness, Everybody is rich there ; — I must do similar
justice however to the Windsor neighbourhood. —
I have been forced to let James & Miss Debary have
two sheets of your Drawing paper, but they sha’nt
have any more. There are not above 3 or 4 left,
besides one of a smaller & richer sort. — Perhaps you
may want some more if you come thro’ Town in your
return, or rather buy some more, for your wanting it
will not depend on your coming thro’ Town I imagine.
— I have just heard from Martha & Frank — his letter
was written on the 12 th Nov r — all well, & nothing
particular.
J. A.
15. To Cassandra Austen . Monday 24 Dec. <1798)
Address (Brabourne) : Miss Austen, Godmersham Park, Faversham,
Kent
Original not traced.
Brabourne i. 182 ; Life 118 (extracts),
Steventon : Monday night December 24.
My dear Cassandra
I have got some pleasant news for you which I am
eager to communicate, and therefore begin my letter
sooner, though I shall not send it sooner than usual.
Admiral Gambier, in reply to my father’s appli-
cation, writes as follows : — ‘ As it is usual to keep
young officers in small vessels, it being most proper
on account of their inexperience, and it being also
a situation where they are more in the way of learning
(41)
15] From Steventon to Godmersham
their duty, your son has been continued in the
“ Scorpion ; ” but I have mentioned to the Board of
Admiralty his wish to be in a frigate, and when
a proper opportunity offers and it is judged that he
has taken his turn in a small ship, I hope he will be
removed. With regard to your son now in the
“ London ” I am glad I can give you the assurance
that his promotion is likely to take place very soon,
as Lord Spencer has been so good as to say he would
include him in an arrangement that he proposes
making in a short time relative to some promotions
in that quarter.’
There ! I may now finish my letter and go and hang
myself, for I am sure I can neither write nor do any-
thing which will not appear insipid to you after this.
Now I really think he will soon be made, and only wish
we could communicate our foreknowledge of the event
to him whom it principally concerns. My father has
written to Daysh to desire that he will inform us, if he
can, when the commission is sent. Your chief wish is
now ready to be accomplished ; and could Lord
Spencer give happiness to Martha at the same time,
what a joyful heart he would make of yours !
I have sent the same extract of the sweets of
Gambier to Charles, who, poor fellow, though he sinks
into nothing but an humble attendant on the hero of
the piece, will, I hope, be contented with the prospect
held out to him. By what the Admiral says, it appears
as if he had been designedly kept in the ‘ Scorpion.’
But I will not torment myself with conjectures and
suppositions ; facts shall satisfy me.
Frank had not heard from any of us for ten weeks
when he wrote to me on November 12 in consequence
(42)
Monday 24 December 1798 [15
of Lord St. Vincent being removed to Gibraltar. When
his commission is sent, however, it will not be so long
on its road as our letters, because all the Government
despatches are forwarded by land to his lordship from
Lisbon with great regularity.
I returned from Manydown this morning, and found
my mother certainly in no respect worse than when
I left her. She does not like the cold weather, but that
we cannot help. I spent my time very quietly and
very pleasantly with Catherine. Miss Blachford is
agreeable enough. I do not want people to be very
agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them
a great deal. I found only Catherine and her when
I got to Manydown on Thursday. We dined together
and went together to Worting to seek the protection
of Mrs. Clarke, with whom were Lady Mildmay, her
eldest son, and a Mr. and Mrs. Hoare.
Our ball was very thin, but by no means unpleasant.
There were thirty-one people, and only eleven ladies
out of the number, and but five single women in the
room. Of the gentlemen present you may have some
idea from the list of my partners — Mr. Wood,
G. Lefroy, Rice, a Mr. Butcher (belonging to the
Temples, a sailor and not of the 11th Light Dragoons),
Mr. Temple (not the horrid one of all), Mr. Wm. Orde
(cousin to the Kingsclere man), Mr. John Harwood,
and Mr. Calland, who appeared as usual with his hat
in his hand, and stood every now and then behind
Catherine and me to be talked to and abused for not
dancing. We teased him, however, into it at last.
I was very glad to see him again after so long a separa-
tion, and he was altogether rather the genius and flirt
of the evening. He enquired after you.
(43)
15] From Steventon to Godmersham
There were twenty dances, and I danced them all,
and without any fatigue. I was glad to find myself
capable of dancing so much, and with so much satis-
faction as I did ; from my slender enjoyment of the
Ashford balls (as assemblies for dancing) I had not
thought myself equal to it, but in cold weather and
with few couples I fancy I could just as well dance for
a week together as for half an hour. My black cap
was openly admired by Mrs. Lefroy, and secretly
I imagine by everybody else in the room.
Tuesday , — I thank you for your long letter, which
I will endeavour to deserve by writing the rest of this
as closely as possible. I am full of joy at much of your
information ; that you should have been to a ball,
and have danced at it, and supped with the Prince,
and that you should meditate the purchase of a new
muslin gown, are delightful circumstances. I am
determined to buy a handsome one whenever I can,
and I am so tired and ashamed of half my present
stock, that I even blush at the sight of the wardrobe
which contains them. But I will not be much longer
libelled by the possession of my coarse spot ; I shall
turn it into a petticoat very soon. I wish you a merry
Christmas, but no compliments of the season.
Poor Edward ! It is very hard that he, who has
everything else in the world that he can wish for,
should not have good health too. But I hope with the
assistance of stomach complaints, faintnesses, and
sicknesses, he will soon be restored to that blessing
likewise. If his nervous complaint proceeded from
a suppression of something that ought to be thrown
out, which does not seem unlikely, the first of these
disorders may really be a remedy, and I sincerely wish
( 44 )
Monday 24 December 1798 [15
it may, for I know no one more deserving of happiness
without alloy than Edward is.
I cannot determine what to do about my new gown j
I wish such things were to be bought ready-made.
I have some hopes of meeting Martha at the christen-
ing at Deane next Tuesday, and shall see what she can
do for me. I want to have something suggested which
will give me no trouble of thought or direction.
Again I return to my joy that you danced at Ash-
ford, and that you supped with the Prince. I can
perfectly comprehend Mrs. Cage’s distress and per-
plexity. She has all those kind of foolish and incom-
prehensible feelings which would make her fancy
herself uncomfortable in such a party. I love her,
however, in spite of all her nonsense. Pray give
‘ t’other Miss Austen’s ’ compliments to Edward
Bridges when you see him again.
I insist upon your persevering in your intention of
buying a new gown ; I am sure you must want one,
and as you will have 5 1. due in a week’s time, I am
certain you may afford it very well, and if you think
you cannot, I will give you the body-lining.
Of my charities to the poor since I came home you
shall have a faithful account. I have given a pair of
worsted stockings to Mary Hutchins, Dame Kew,
Mary Steevens, and Dame Staples ; a shift to Hannah
Staples, and a shawl to Betty Dawkins ; amounting
in all to about half a guinea. But I have no reason to
suppose that the Battys would accept of anything,
because I have not made them the offer.
I am glad to hear such a good account of Harriet
Bridges ; she goes on now as young ladies of seventeen
ought to do, admired and admiring, in a much more
(45)
15] From Steventon to Godmersham
rational way than her three elder sisters, who had so
little of that kind of youth. I dare say she fancies
Major Elkington as agreeable as Warren, and if she
can think so, it is very well.
I was to have dined at Deane to-day, but the
weather is so cold that I am not sorry to be kept at
home by the appearance of snow. We are to have
company to dinner on Friday : the three Digweeds
and James. We shall be a nice silent party, I suppose.
Seize upon the scissors as soon as you possibly can on
the receipt of this. I only fear your being too late to
secure the prize.
The Lords of the Admiralty will have enough of our
applications at present, for I hear from Charles that
he has written to Lord Spencer himself to be removed.
I am afraid his Serene Highness will be in a passion,
and order some of our heads to be cut off.
My mother wants to know whether Edward has
ever made the hen-house which they planned together.
I am rejoiced to hear from Martha that they certainly
continue at Ibthorp, and I have just heard that I am
sure of meeting Martha at the christening.
You deserve a longer letter than this ; but it is my
unhappy fate seldom to treat people so well as they
deserve. . . . God bless you !
Yours affectionately,
Jane Austen
Wednesday . — The snow came to nothing yesterday,
so I did go to Deane, and returned home at nine
o’clock at night in the little carriage, and without
being very cold.
b
( 46 )
Friday 28 December 1798
[16
16. To Cassandra Austen. Friday 28 Dec. 1798
Address : Miss Austen Godmersham Park Faversham Kent
Postmark : illegible.
Oliver R. Barrett. Two leaves 4i°
Braboume i. 190 ; Life 121.
My dear Cassandra
Frank is made.— He was yesterday raised to the
Rank of Commander & appointed to the Petterel
Sloop, now at Gibraltar. — A Letter from Daysh has
just announced this, & as it is confirmed by a very
friendly one from M r Mathew to the same effect
transcribing one from Admiral Gambier to the General,
We have no reason to suspect the truth of it. — As
soon as you have cried a little for Joy, you may go
on, & learn farther that the India House have taken
Capt n Austen's Petition into consideration — this comes
from Daysh — & likewise that Lieut: Charles John
Austen is removed to the Tamer Frigate — this comes
from the Admiral. — We cannot find out where the
Tamer is, but I hope we shall now see Charles here at
all Events.
This letter is to be dedicated entirely to good News.
— If you will send my father an account of your Wash-
ing & Letter expences &c, he will send you a draft for
the amount of it, as well as for your next quarter, &
for Edward’s Rent. — If you don’t buy a muslin Gown
now on the strength of this Money, & Frank’s promo-
tion, I shall never forgive you. —
M rs Lefroy has just sent me word that Lady Dort-
chester means to invite me to her Ball on the 8 th of
January, which tho’ an humble Blessing compared
with what the last page records, I do not consider as
( 47 )
From Steventon to Godmersham
any Calamity. I cannot write any more now, but
I have written enough to make you very happy, &
therefore may safely conclude.
Yours affec ly
Jane
Steventon Friday Dec 1 28 th
17. To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday 8 Jan. <1799>
Address (Brabourne) : Miss Austen, Godmersham Park, Faversham
Original not traced.
Brabourne i. 191 ; Life 122 (extracts).
Steventon : Tuesday January 8
My dear Cassandra
You must read your letters over Jive times in future
before you send them, and then, perhaps, you may
find them as entertaining as I do. I laughed at several
parts of the one which I am now answering.
Charles is not come yet, but he must come this
morning, or he shall never know what I will do to
him. The ball at Kempshott is this evening, and
I have got him an invitation, though I have not
been so considerate as to get him a partner. But the
cases are different between him and Eliza Bailey, for
he is not in a dying way, and may therefore be equal
to getting a partner for himself. I believe I told you
that Monday was to be the ball night, for which, and
for all other errors into which I may ever have led you,
I humbly ask your pardon.
Elizabeth is very cruel about my writing music, and,
as a punishment for her, I should insist upon always
writing out all hers for her in future, if I were not
punishing myself at the same time.
(48)
Tuesday 8 January 1799 [17
I am tolerably glad to hear that Edward’s income
is so good a one — as glad as I can be at anybody’s
being rich except you and me— and I am thoroughly
rejoiced to hear of his present to you.
I am not to wear my white satin cap to-night, after
all ; I am to wear a mamalone cap instead, which
Charles Fowle sent to Mary, and which she lends me.
It is all the fashion now ; worn at the opera, and by
Lady Mildmays at Hackwood balls. I hate describing
such things, and I dare say you will be able to guess
what it is like. I have got over the dreadful epocha
of mantua-making much better than I expected. My
gown is made very much like my blue one, which you
always told me sat very well, with only these varia-
tions : the sleeves are short, the wrap fuller, the
apron comes over it, and a band of the same completes
the whole.
I assure you that I dread the idea of going to
Brighton as much as you do, but I am not without
hopes that something may happen to prevent it.
F has lost his election at B , and perhaps
they may not be able to see company for some time.
They talk of going to Bath, too, in the spring, and
perhaps they may be overturned in their way down,
and all laid up for the summer.
Wednesday , — I have had a cold and weakness in
one of my eyes for some days, which makes writing
neither very pleasant nor very profitable, and which
will probably prevent my finishing this letter myself.
My mother has undertaken to do it for me, and I shall
leave the Kempshott ball for her.
You express so little anxiety about my being mur-
dered under Ash Park Copse by Mrs. Hulbert’s
( 49 ) r
17] From Steventon to Godmersham
servant, that I have a great mind not to tell you
whether I was or not, and shall only say that I did
not return home that night or the next, as Martha
kindly made room for me in her bed, which was the
shut-up one in the new nursery. Nurse and the child
slept upon the floor, and there we all were in some
confusion and great comfort. The bed did exceedingly
well for us, both to lie awake in and talk till two
o’clock, and to sleep in the rest of the night. I love
Martha better than ever, and I mean to go and see
her, if I can, when she gets home. We all dined at the
Harwoods’ on Thursday, and the party broke up the
next morning.
This complaint in my eye has been a sad bore to me,
for I have not been able to read or work in any comfort
since Friday, but one advantage will be derived from
it, for I shall be such a proficient in music by the time
I have got rid of my cold, that I shall be perfectly
qualified in that science at least to take Mr. Roope’s
office at Eastwell next summer ; and I am sure of
Elizabeth’s recommendation, be it only on Harriet’s
account. Of my talent in drawing I have given
specimens in my letters to you, and I have nothing to
do but to invent a few hard names for the stars.
Mary grows rather more reasonable about her
child’s beauty, and says that she does not think him
really handsome ; but I suspect her moderation to be
something like that of W W ’s mama. Per-
haps Mary has told you that they are going to enter
more into dinner parties ; the Biggs and Mr. Holder
dine there to-morrow, and I am to meet them. I shall
sleep there. Catherine has the honour of giving
her name to a set, which will be composed of two
( 50 )
Tuesday 8 January 1799 [17
Withers, two Heathcotes, a Blachford, and no Bigg
except herself. She congratulated me last night on
Frank’s promotion, as if she really felt the joy she
talked of.
My sweet little George ! I am delighted to hear that
he has such an inventive genius as to face-making.
I admired his yellow wafer very much, and hope he will
choose the wafer for your next letter. I wore my
gieen shoes last night, and took my white fan with me ;
I am very glad he never threw it into the river.
Mrs. Knight giving up the Godmersham estate to
Edward was no such prodigious act of generosity after
all, it seems, for she has reserved herself an income
out of it still ; this ought to be known, that her
conduct may not be overrated. I rather think
Edward shows the most magnanimity of the two, in
accepting her resignation with such incumbrances.
The more I write, the better my eye gets, so I shall
at least keep on till it is quite well, before I give up
my pen to my mother.
Mrs. Bramston’s little moveable apartment was
tolerably filled last night by herself, Mrs. H. Black-
stone, her two daughters, and me. I do not like the
Miss Blackstones ; indeed, I was always determined
not to like them, so there is the less merit in it. Mrs.
Bramston was very civil, kind, and noisy. I spent
a very pleasant evening, chiefly among the Many-
down party. There was the same kind of supper as
last year, and the same want of chairs. There were
more dancers than the room could conveniently hold,
which is enough to constitute a good ball at any time.
I do not think I was very much in request. People
were rather apt not to ask me till they could not help
(51)
17] From Steventon to Godmersham
it ; one’s consequence, you know, varies so much at
times without any particular reason. There was one
gentleman, an officer of the Cheshire, a very good-
looking young man, who, I was told, wanted very
much to be introduced to me ; but as he did not want
it quite enough to take much trouble in effecting it, we
never could bring it about.
I danced with Mr. John Wood again, twice with
a Mr. South, a lad from Winchester, who, I suppose,
is as far from being related to the bishop of that
diocese as it is possible to be, with G. Lefroy, and
J. Harwood, who, I think, takes to me rather more
than he used to do. One of my gayest actions was
sitting down two dances in preference to having Lord
Bolton’s eldest son for my partner, who danced too ill
to be endured. The Miss Charterises were there, and
played the parts of the Miss Edens with great spirit.
Charles never came. Naughty Charles ! I suppose he
could not get superseded in time.
Miss Debary has replaced your two sheets of draw-
ing-paper with two of superior size and quality ; so
I do not grudge her having taken them at all now.
Mr. Ludlow and Miss Pugh of Andover are lately
married, and so is Mrs. Skeete of Basingstoke, and
Mr. French, chemist, of Reading.
I do not wonder at your wanting to read * First
Impressions * again, so seldom as you have gone
through it, and that so long ago. I am much obliged
to you for meaning to leave my old petticoat behind
you. I have long secretly wished it might be done,
but had not courage to make the request.
Pray mention the name of Maria Montresor’s lover
when you write next. My mother wants to know it,
(52)
Tuesday 8 January 1799 [17
and I have not courage to look back into your letters
to find it out.
I shall not be able to send this till to-morrow, and
you will be disappointed on Friday ; I am very sorry
for it, but I cannot help it.
The partnership between Jeffereys, Toomer, and
Legge is dissolved ; the two latter are melted away
into nothing, and it is to be hoped that Jeffereys will
soon break, for the sake of a few heroines whose money
he may have. I wish you joy of your birthday twenty
times over.
I shall be able to send this to the post to-day, which
exalts me to the utmost pinnacle of human felicity,
and makes me bask in the sunshine of prosperity, or
gives me any other sensation of pleasure in studied
language which you may prefer. Do not be angry
with me for not filling my sheet, and believe me yours
affectionately,
J. A.
18. To Cassandra Austen. Monday 21 Jan. <1799)
Address (Brabourne) : Miss Austen, Godmersham Park, Faversham,
Kent
Original not traced.
Brabourne i. 198 ; Life 124 (extracts).
Steventon : Monday January 21
My dear Cassandra
I will endeavour to make this letter more worthy
your acceptance than my last, which was so shabby
a one that I think Mr. Marshall could never charge
you with the postage. My eyes have been very indif-
ferent since it was written, but are now getting better
(53)
18] From Steventon to Godmersham
once more ; keeping them so many hours open on
Thursday night, as well as the dust of the ball-room,
injured them a good deal. I use them as little as I can,
but you know, and Elizabeth knows, and everybody
who ever had weak eyes knows, how delightful it is to
hurt them by employment, against the advice and
entreaty of all one’s friends.
Charles leaves us to-night. The ‘ Tamar ’ is in the
Downs, and Mr. Daysh advises him to join her there
directly, as there is no chance of her going to the
westward. Charles does not approve of this at all,
and will not be much grieved if he should be too late
for her before she sails, as he may then hope to get
into a better station. He attempted to go to town
last night, and got as far on his road thither as Dean
Gate ; but both the coaches were full, and we had the
pleasure of seeing him back again. He will call on
Daysh to-morrow to know whether the ‘ Tamar ’ has
sailed or not, and if she is still at the Downs he will
proceed in one of the night coaches to Deal. I want
to go with him, that I may explain the country to him
properly between Canterbury and Howling, but the
unpleasantness of returning by myself deters me. I
should like to go as far as Ospringe with him very
much indeed, that I might surprise you at God-
mersham.
Martha writes me word that Charles was very much
admired at Kintbury, and Mrs. Lefroy never saw
anyone so much improved in her life, and thinks him
handsomer than Henry. He appears to far more
advantage here than he did at Godmersham, not sur-
rounded by strangers and neither oppressed by a pain
in his face or powder in his hair.
( 5 * )
Monday 21 January 1799
James christened Elizabeth Caroline on Saturday
morning, and then came home. Mary, Anna, and
Edward have left us of course ; before the second
went I took down her answer to her cousin Fanny.
Yesterday came a letter to my mother from Edward
Cooper to announce, not the birth of a child, but of
a living ; for Mrs. Leigh has begged his acceptance
of the Rectory of Hamstall-Ridware in Staffordshire,
vacant by Mr. Johnson’s death. We collect from his
letter that he means to reside there, in which he shows
his wisdom. Staffordshire is a good way off ; so we
shall see nothing more of them till, some fifteen years
hence, the Miss Coopers are presented to us, fine, jolly,
handsome, ignorant girls. The living is valued at
1401. a year, but perhaps it may be improvable. How
will they be able to convey the furniture of the
dressing-room so far in safety ?
Our first cousins seem all dropping off very fast.
One is incorporated into the family, another dies, and
a third goes into Staffordshire. We can learn nothing
of the disposal of the other living. I have not the
smallest notion of Fulwar’s having it. Lord Craven
has probably other connections and more intimate ones,
in that line, than he now has with the Kintbury family.
Our ball on Thursday was a very poor one, only
eight couple and but twenty-three people in the room ;
but it was not the ball’s fault, for we were deprived of
two or three families by the sudden illness of Mr.
Wither, who was seized that morning at Winchester
with a return of his former alarming complaint. An
express was sent off from thence to the family ;
Catherine and Miss Blachford were dining with Mrs.
Russell. Poor Catherine’s distress must have been
(55)
18] From Steventon to GodmersJiam
very great. She was prevailed on to wait till the
Heathcotes could come from Wintney, and then with
those two and Harris proceeded directly to Winchester.
In such a disorder his danger, I suppose, must always
be great ; but from this attack he is now rapidly
recovering, and will be well enough to return to Many-
down, I fancy, in a few days.
It was a fine thing for conversation at the ball. But
it deprived us not only of the Biggs, but of Mrs. Russell
too, and of the Boltons and John Harwood, who were
dining there likewise, and of Mr. Lane, who kept away
as related to the family. Poor man ! — I mean Mr.
Wither — his life is so useful, his character so respect-
able and worthy, that I really believe there was a good
deal of sincerity in the general concern expressed on
his account.
Our ball was chiefly made up of Jervoises and
Terrys, the former of whom were apt to be vulgar, the
latter to be noisy. I had an odd set of partners : Mr.
Jenkins, Mr. Street, Col. Jervoise, James Digweed,
J. Lyford, and Mr. Briggs, a friend of the latter.
I had a very pleasant evening, however, though you
will probably find out that there was no particular
reason for it ; but I do not think it worth while to
wait for enjoyment until there is some real opportunity
for it. Mary behaved very well, and was not at all
fidgetty. For the history of her adventures at the ball
I refer you to Anna’s letter.
When you come home you will have some shirts to
make up for Charles. Mrs. Davies frightened him into
buying a piece of Irish when we were in Basingstoke.
Mr.Daysh supposes that Captain Austen’s commission
has reached him by this time.
( 56 )
Monday 21 January 1799 [is
Tuesday .— Your letter has pleased and amused me
very much. Your essay on happy fortnights is highly
ingenious, and the talobert skin made me laugh a good
deal. Whenever I fall into misfortune, how many
jokes it ought to furnish to my acquaintance in
general, or I shall die dreadfully in their debt for
entertainment.
It began to occur to me before you mentioned it
that I had been somewhat silent as to my mother’s
health for some time, but I thought you could have
no difficulty in divining its exact state — you, who have
guessed so much stranger things. She is tolerably
well — better upon the whole than she was some weeks
ago. She would tell you herself that she has a very
dreadful cold in her head at present ; but I have not
much compassion for colds in the head without fever
or sore throat.
Our own particular little brother got a place in the
coach last night, and is now, I suppose, in town.
I have no objection at all to your buying our gowns
there, as your imagination has pictured to you exactly
such a one as is necessary to make me happy. You
quite abash me by your progress in notting, for I am
still without silk. You must get me some in town or
in Canterbury ; it should be finer than yours.
I thought Edward would not approve of Charles
being a crop, and rather wished you to conceal it from
him at present, lest it might fall on his spirits and
retard his recovery. My father furnishes him with
a pig from Cheesedown ; it is already killed and cut
up, but it is not to weigh more than nine stone ; the
season is too far advanced to get him a larger one.
My mother means to pay herself for the salt and the
(57)
18] From Steventon to Godmersham
trouble of ordering it to be cured by the sparibs, the
souse, and the lard. We have had one dead lamb.
I congratulate you on Mr. E. Hatton’s good fortune.
I suppose the marriage will now follow out of hand.
Give my compliments to Miss Finch.
What time in March may we expect your return
in ? I begin to be very tired of answering people’s
questions on that subject, and, independent of that ,
I shall be very glad to see you at home again, and then
if we can get Martha and shirk . . . who
will be so happy as we ?
I think of going to Ibthorp in about a fortnight.
My eyes are pretty well, I thank you, if you please.
Wednesday, 23rd . — I wish my dear Fanny many
returns of this day, and that she may on every return
enjoy as much pleasure as she is now receiving fro m
her doll’s-beds.
I have just heard from Charles, who is by this time
at Deal. He is to be Second Lieutenant, which
pleases him very well. The ‘ Endymion ’ is come into
the Downs, which pleases him likewise. He expects
to be ordered to Sheerness shortly, as the ‘ Tamar ’
has never been refitted.
My father and mother made the same match for
you last night, and are very much pleased with it.
He is a beauty of my mother’s.
Yours affectionately,
Jane
( 58 )
Friday 17 May 1799
19, To Cassandra Austen . Friday 17 May <1799)
Address (Brabourne) : Miss Austen, Steventon, Overton, Hants
Original not traced.
Brabourne i. 206 ; Life 127 (extracts).
13, Queen’s Square, Friday May 17
My dearest Cassandra
Our journey yesterday went off exceedingly well ;
nothing occurred to alarm or delay us. We found the
roads in excellent order, had very good horses all the
way, and reached Devizes with ease by four o’clock.
I suppose John has told you in what manner we were
divided when we left Andover, and no alteration was
afterwards made. At Devizes we had comfortable
rooms and a good dinner, to which we sat down about
five ; amongst other things we had asparagus and
a lobster, which made me wish for you, and some
cheesecakes, on which the children made so delightful
a supper as to endear the town of Devizes to them for
a long time.
Well, here we are at Bath ; we got here about one
o’clock, and have been arrived just long enough to go
over the house, fix on our rooms, and be very well
pleased with the whole of it. Poor Elizabeth has had
a dismal ride of it from Devizes, for it has rained
almost all the way, and our first view of Bath has been
just as gloomy as it was last November twelvemonth.
I have got so many things to say, so many things
equally important, that I know not on which to decide
at present, and shall therefore go and eat with the
children .
We stopped in Paragon as we came along, but as it
(59)
19 ] From Bath to Steventon
was too wet and dirty for us to get out, we could only
see Frank, who told us that his master was very
indifferent, but had had a better night last night than
usual. In Paragon we met Mrs. Foley and Mrs.
Dowdeswell with her yellow shawl airing out, and at
the bottom of Kingsdown Hill we met a gentleman in
a buggy, who, on minute examination, turned out to
be Dr. Hall— and Dr. Hall in such very deep mourning
that either his mother, his wife, or himself must be
dead. These are all of our acquaintance who have yet
met our eyes.
I have some hopes of being plagued about my
trunk ; I had more a few hours ago, for it was too
heavy to go by the coach which brought Thomas and
Rebecca from Devizes ; there was reason to suppose
that it might be too heavy likewise for any other
coach, and for a long time we could hear of no waggon
to convey it. At last, however, we unluckily dis-
covered that one was just on the point of setting out
for this place, but at any rate the trunk cannot be here
till to-morrow ; so far we are safe, and who knows
what may not happen to procure a farther delay ?
I put Mary’s letter into the post-office at Andover
with my own hand.
We are exceedingly pleased with the house ; the
rooms are quite as large as we expected. Mrs. Bromley
is a fat woman in mourning, and a little black kitten
runs about the staircase. Elizabeth has the apartment
within the drawing-room ; she wanted my mother to
have it, but as there was no bed in the inner one, and
the stairs are so much easier of ascent, or my mother
so much stronger than in Paragon as not to regard the
double flight, it is settled for us to be above, where we
( 60 )
Friday 17 May 1799 [19
have two very nice-sized rooms, with dirty quilts and
everything comfortable. I have the outward and
larger apartment, as I ought to have ; which is quite
as large as our bedroom at home, and my mother’s is
not materially less. The beds are both as large as any
at Steventon, and I have a very nice chest of drawers
and a closet full of shelves — so full indeed that there
is nothing else in it, and it should therefore be called
a cupboard rather than a closet, I suppose.
Tell Mary that there were some carpenters at work
in the inn at Devizes this morning, but as I could not
be sure of their being Mrs. W. Fowle’s relations, I did
not make myself known to them.
I hope it will be a tolerable afternoon. When first
we came, all the umbrellas were up, but now the pave-
ments are getting very white again.
My mother does not seem at all the worse for her
journey, nor are any of us, I hope, though Edward
seemed rather fagged last night, and not very brisk
this morning ; but I trust the bustle of sending for
tea, coffee, and sugar, &c., and going out to taste a
cheese himself, will do him good.
There was a very long list of arrivals here in the
newspaper yesterday, so that we need not immediately
dread absolute solitude ; and there is a public break-
fast in Sydney Gardens every morning, so that we
shall not be wholly starved.
Elizabeth has just had a very good account of the
three little boys. I hope you are very busy and very
comfortable. I find no difficulty in closing my eyes.
I like our situation very much ; it is far more cheerful
than Paragon, and the prospect from the drawing-
room window, at which I now write, is rather pic-
(61)
From Bath to Steventon
19]
turesque, as it commands a prospective view of the
left side of Brock Street, broken by three Lombardy
poplars in the garden of the last house in Queen’s
Parade.
I am rather impatient to know the fate of my best
gown, but I suppose it will be some days before
Frances can get through the trunk. In the meantime
I am, with many thanks for your trouble in making it,
as well as marking my silk stockings.
Yours very affectionately,
Jane
A great deal of love from everybody.
20. To Cassandra Austen. Sunday 2 June (1799)
Address : Miss Austen | Steventon | Overton [ Hants
Postmark : bath. The dated postmark cut away.
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°. A piece cut away, 14 lines
lost.
Brabourne i. 211 ; Life 129 (extracts). One sentence unpublished.
13. Queen Square — Sunday June 2 d .
My dear Cassandra
I am obliged to you for two letters, one from Your-
self & the other from Mary, for of the latter I knew
nothing till on the receipt of yours yesterday, when
the Pigeon Basket was examined & I received my
due. — As I have written to her since the time which
ought to have brought me her’s, I suppose she will
consider herself as I chuse to consider her, still in my
debt. — I will lay out all the little Judgement I have in
endeavouring to get such stockings for Anna as she
will approve ; — but I do not know that I shall execute
Martha’s commission at all, for I am not fond of
( 62 )
Sunday 2 June 1799 [20
ordering shoes, & at any rate they shall all have flat
heels. — What must I tell you of Edward ? — Truth or
Falsehood ? — I will try the former, & you may chuse
for yourself another time— He was better yesterday
than he had been for two or three days before, about
as well as while he was at Steventon — . He drinks at
the Hetling Pump, is to bathe tomorrow, & try
Electricity on Tuesday ; — he proposed the latter him-
self to Dr. Fellowes, who made no objection to it, but I
fancy we are all unanimous in expecting no advantage
from it. At present I have no great notion of our
staying here beyond the Month. — I heard from Charles
last week— they were to sail on Wednesday. — My
Mother seems remarkably well. — My Uncle over-
walked himself at first, and can now only travel in
a Chair, but is otherwise very well— My Cloak is come
home and here follows the pattern of it’s lace. — If you
do not think it wide enough, I can give § a yard
more for yours, & not go beyond the two guineas,
for my Cloak altogether does not cost quite two
pounds. I like it very much, & can now exclaim with
delight, like J. Bond at Hay-Harvest, ‘ This is what
I have been looking for these three years.’— I saw
some gauzes in a shop in Bath Street yesterday at
(63)
20] From Bath to Steventon
only | a yard, but they were not so good or so pretty
as mine. — Flowers are very much worn, & Fruit is still
more the thing. Eliz: has a bunch of Strawberries, &
I have seen Grapes, Cherries, Plumbs & Apricots—
There are likewise Almonds & raisins, french plumbs
& Tamarinds at the Grocers, but I have never seen
any of them in hats. — A plumb or greengage would
cost three shillings ; — Cherries & grapes about 5
I beleive — but this is at some of the dearest shops ; —
My aunt has told me of a very cheap one near Walcot
Church, to which I shall go in quest of something for
you. — I have never seen an old Woman at the Pump
room. — Eliz: has given me a hat, and it is not only
a pretty hat, but a pretty stile of hat too — It is some-
thing like Eliza’s only instead of being all straw, half
of it is narrow purple ribbon. — I flatter myself however
that you can understand very little of it, from this
description — . Heaven forbid that I should ever offer
such encouragement to Explanations, as to give a
clear one on any occasion myself. — But I must write
no more of (seven lines cut ouV) it so. — I spent friday
evening with the Mapletons, & was obliged to submit
to being pleased in spite of my inclination. We took
a very charming walk from 6 to 8 up Beacon Hill, &
across some fields to the Village of Charlcombe, which
is sweetly situated in a little green Valley, as a Village
with such a name ought to be. — Marianne is sensible
& intelligent, and even Jane considering how fair she
is, is not unpleasant. We had a Miss North & a
Mr. Gould of our party ; — the latter walked home with
me after Tea ; — he is a very young Man, just entered
of Oxford, wears Spectacles, & has heard that Evelina
was written by Dr. Johnson. — I am afraid I cannot
(64)
Sunday 2 June 1799 [20
undertake to carry Martha’s shoes home, for, tho’ we
had plenty of room in our Trunks when we came, We
shall have many more things to take back, & I must
allow besides for my packing— There is to be a grand
gala on tuesday evening in Sydney Gardens a Con-
cert, with Illuminations & fireworks ; — to the latter
Eliz: & I look forward with pleasure, & even the
Concert will have more than it’s usual charm with me.
/
as the gardens are large enough for me to get pretty
well beyond the reach of its sound. — In the morning
Lady Willoughby is to present the Colours to some
Corps of Yeomanry or other, in the Crescent — & that
such festivities may have a proper commencement, we
think of going to < seven lines cut out >
I am quite pleased with Martha & Mrs. Lefroy for
wanting the pattern of our Caps, but I am not so well
pleased with your giving it to them—. Some wish,
some prevailing wish is necessary to the animation of
everybody’s Mind, & in gratifying this, you leave them
to form some other which will not probably be half so
innocent. — I shall not forget to write to Frank. — Duty
& Love &c.
Yours affec ,y
Jane
My uncle is quite surprised at my hearing from you
so often ; but as long as we can keep the frequency of
our correspondence from Martha’s uncle, we will not
fear our own.
*
(65)
F
21 ]
From Bath to Steventon
21. To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday 11 June <1799)
Address (Brabourne) : Miss Austen, Steventon, Overton, Hants
Original not traced,
Brabourne i, 215 ; Life 180 (extracts),
13, Queen Square, Tuesday June 11.
My dear Cassandra
Your letter yesterday made me very happy. I am
heartily glad that you have escaped any share in the
impurities of Deane, and not sorry, as it turns out,
that our stay here has been lengthened. I feel
tolerably secure of our getting away next week, though
it is certainly possible that we may remain till Thurs-
day the 27th. I wonder what we shall do with all our
intended visits this summer ! I should like to make
a compromise with Adlestrop, Harden, and Bookham,
that Martha’s spending the summer at Steventon should
be considered as our respective visits to them all.
Edward has been pretty well for this last week, and
as the waters have never disagreed with him in any
respect, we are inclined to hope that he will derive
advantage from them in the end. Everybody en-
courages us in this expectation, for they all say that
the effect of the waters cannot be negative, and many
are the instances in which their benefit is felt after-
wards more than on the spot. He is more comfortable
here than I thought he would be, and so is Elizabeth,
though they will both, I believe, be very glad to get
away — the latter especially, which one can’t wonder
at somehow. So much for Mrs. Piozzi. I had some
thoughts of writing the whole of my letter in her style,
but I believe I shall not.
( 66 )
Tuesday 11 June 1799 [21
Though you have given me unlimited powers con-
cerning your sprig, I cannot determine what to do
about it, and shall therefore in this and in every other
future letter continue to ask your farther directions.
We have been to the cheap shop, and very cheap we
found it, but there are only flowers made there, no
fruit and as I could get four or five very pretty sprigs
of the former for the same money which would procure
only one Orleans plum — in short, could get more for
three or four shillings than I could have means of
bringing home— I cannot decide on the fruit till I hear
from you again. Besides, I cannot help thinking that
it is more natural to have flowers grow out of the head
than fruit. What do you think on that subject?
I would not let Martha read 1 First Impressions *
again upon any account, and am very glad that I did
not leave it in your power. She is very cunning, but
I saw through her design ; she means to publish it
from memory, and one more perusal must enable her
to do it. As for * Fitzalbini,’ when I get home she
shall have it, as soon as ever she will own that Mr.
Elliott is handsomer than Mr. Lance, that fair men are
preferable to black ; for I mean to take every oppor-
tunity of rooting out her prejudices.
Benjamin Portal is here. How charming that is !
I do not exactly know why, but the phrase followed so
naturally that I could not help putting it down. My
mother saw him the other day, but without making
herself known to him.
I am very glad you liked my lace, and so are you, and
so is Martha, and we are all glad together. I have got
your cloak home, which is quite delightful — as delightful
at least as half the circumstances which are called so.
(67)
21] From Bath to Steventon
I do not know what is the matter with me to-day,
but I cannot write quietly ; I am always wandering
away into some exclamation or other. Fort una tely
I have nothing very particular to say.
We walked to Weston one evening last week, and
liked it very much. Liked what very much ? Weston ?
No, walking to Weston. I have not expressed myself
properly, but I hope you will understand me.
We have not been to any public place lately, nor
performed anything out of the common daily routine
of No. 13, Queen Square, Bath. But to-day we were
to have dashed away at a very extraordinary rate, by
dining out, had it not so happened that we did not go.
Edward renewed his acquaintance lately with Mr.
Evelyn, who lives in the Queen’s Parade, and was
invited to a family dinner, which I believe at first
Elizabeth was rather sorry at his accepting ; but
yesterday Mrs. Evelyn called on us, and her manners
were so pleasing that we liked the idea of going very
much. The Biggs would call her a nice woman. But
Mr. Evelyn, who was indisposed yesterday, is worse
to-day, and we are put off.
It is rather impertinent to suggest any household
care to a housekeeper, but I just venture to say that
the coffee-mill will be wanted every day while Edward
is at Steventon, as he always drinks coffee for breakfast.
Fanny desires her love to you, her love to grand-
papa, her love to Anna, and her love to Hannah ; the
latter is particularly to be remembered. Edward
desires his love to you, to grandpapa, to Anna, to little
Edward, to Aunt James and Uncle James, and he
hopes all your turkeys and ducks, and chicken and
guinea fowls are very well ; and he wishes you very
( 68 )
Tuesday 11 June 1799 [21
much to send him a printed letter, and so does Fanny
— and they both rather think they shall answer it.
1 On more accounts than one you wished our stav
here to be lengthened beyond last Thursday.’ There
is some mystery in this. What have you going on in
Hampshire besides the itch from which you want to
keep us ?
Dr. Gardiner was married yesterday to Mrs. Percy
and her three daughters.
Now I will give you the history of Mary’s veil, in the
purchase of which I have so considerably involved you
that it is my duty to economise for you in the flowers.
I had no difficulty in getting a muslin veil for half
a guinea, and not much more in discovering after-
wards that the muslin was thick, dirty, and ragged,
and therefore would by no means do for a united gift.
I changed it consequently as soon as I could, and,
considering what a state my imprudence had reduced
me to, I thought myself lucky in getting a black lace
one for sixteen shillings. I hope the half of that sum
will not greatly exceed what you had intended to offer
upon the altar of sister-in-law affection.
Yours affectionately, Jane
They do not seem to trouble you much from Many-
down. I have long wanted to quarrel with them, and
I believe I shall take this opportunity. There is no
denying that they are very capricious — for they like
to enjoy their elder sister’s company when they can.
( 69 )
22 ]
From Bath to Steventon
22. To Cassandra Austen. Wednesday 19 June <1799)
Address : Miss Austen | Steventon [ Overton | Hants
Postmark : bath . The dated postmark illegible.
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Braboumei. 220 ; Life 131 (extracts). The additions dictated by the
children are unpublished.
13. Queen Square — Wednesday June 19 th .
My dear Cassandra
The Children were delighted with your letters, as
I fancy they will tell you themselves before this is
concluded. — Fanny expressed some surprise at the
wetness of the Wafers, but it did not lead to any
suspicion of the Truth. — Martha & You were just in
time with your commissions, for two o’clock on
monday was the last hour of my receiving them ; — the
office is now closed. — John Lyford’s history is a melan-
choly one. — I feel for his family, & when I know that
his Wife was really fond of him, I will feel for her too,
but at present I cannot help thinking their loss the
greatest. — Edward has not been well these last two
days ; his appetite has failed him, & he has com-
plained of sick & uncomfortable feelings, which with
other Symptoms make us think of the Gout — perhaps
a fit of it might cure him, but I cannot wish it to begin
at Bath. — He made an important purchase Yesterday ;
no less so than a pair of Coach Horses ; his friend Mr.
Evelyn found them out & recommended them, & if
the judgement of a Yahoo can ever be depended on,
I suppose it may now, for I beleive Mr. Evelyn has
all his life thought more of Horses than of anything
else. — Their Colour is black & their size not large —
their price sixty Guineas, of which the Chair Mare was
(70)
Wednesday 19 June 1799 [22
taken as fifteen — but this is of course to be a secret. —
Mrs. Williams need not pride herself on her knowledge
of Dr. Mapleton’s success here ; — she knows no more
than everybody else knows in Bath. — There is not
a Physician in the place who writes so many Prescrip-
tions as he does — I cannot help wishing that Edward
had not been tied down to Dr. Fellowes, for had he
come disengaged, we should all have recommended
Dr. Mapleton ; my Uncle & Aunt as earnestly as
ourselves. — I do not see the Miss Mapletons very often,
but just as often as I like ; we are always very glad to
meet, & I do not wish to wear out our satisfaction. —
Last Sunday We all drank tea in Paragon ; my Uncle
is still in his flannels, but is getting better again. — On
Monday, Mr. Evelyn was well enough for us to fulfil
our engagement with him ; — the visit was very quiet
& uneventful ; pleasant enough. — We met only
another Mr. Evelyn, his cousin, whose wife came to
Tea. — Last night we were in Sidney Gardens again,
as there was a repetition of the Gala which went off so
ill on the 4 th . — We did not go till nine, & then were in
very good time for the Fire-works, which were really
beautiful, & surpassing my expectation ; — the illu-
minations too were very pretty. — The weather was as
favourable, as it was otherwise a fortnight ago. — The
Play on Saturday is I hope to conclude our Gaieties
here, for nothing but a lengthened stay will make it
otherwise. We go with Mrs. Fellowes. — Edward will
not remain at Steventon longer than from Thursday
to the following Monday I beleive, as the Rent-day is
to be fixed for the consecutive friday. — I can recollect
nothing more to say at present ; — perhaps Breakfast
may assist my ideas. I was deceived — my breakfast
( 71 )
22] From Bath to Steventon
supplied only two ideas, that the rolls were good, & the
butter bad ; — But the Post has been more friendly to
me, it has brought me a letter from Miss Pearson.
You may remember that I wrote to her above two
months ago about the parcel under my care, & as
I had heard nothing from her since, I thought myself
obliged to write again two or three days ago, for after
all that had passed I was determined that the Corre-
spondence should never cease thro’ my means — . This
second letter has produced an apology for her silence,
founded on the Illness of several of the family. — The
exchange of packets is to take place through the
medium of Mr. Nutt, probably one of the Sons belong-
ing to Woolwich Academy, who comes to Overton in
the beginning of July. — I am tempted to suspect from
some parts of her Letter, that she has a matrimonial
project in veiw — I shall question her about it when
I answer her Letter ; but all this you know is en
Mystere between ourselves.— Edward has seen the
Apothecary to whom Dr. Millman recommended him,
a sensible, intelligent Man, since I began this — & he
attributes his present little feverish indisposition to
his having ate something unsuited to his Stomach. —
I do not understand that Mr. Anderton suspects the
Gout at all ; — The occasional particular glow in the
hands & feet, which we considered as a symptom of
that Disorder, he only calls the effect of the Water in
promoting a better circulation of the blood. I cannot
help thinking from your account of Mrs. E. H. that
Earle’s vanity has tempted him to invent the account
of her former way of Life, that his triumph in securing
her might be greater ; — I dare say she was nothing but
an innocent Country Girl in fact. — Adeiu — . I shall
( 72 )
Wednesday 19 June 1799 [22
not write again before Sunday, unless anything par-
ticular happens.
Yours ever
Jane
We shall be with you on Thursday to a very late
Dinner — later I suppose than my father will like for
himself— but I give him leave to eat one before. You
must give us something very nice, for we are used to
live well.
My dear Cassandra
I thank you for your pretty letter My little
Brothers were very well when Mama heard from
Sackree. I have given all your messages except to my
Uncle & Aunt Perrot, & I have not seen them since
I had your letter. I am very happy at Bath, but I am
afraid Papa is not much better for drinking the
Waters. — Mama's best Love. — Is the other chaf-
finche’s nest in the Garden hatched ?— Your affec:
Neice F A G — P.S. — Yes, I shall be very glad to home
& see brothers.
My dear Aunt Cassandra — I hope you are very well.
Grandmama hopes the white Turkey lays, & that
you have eat up the black one. — We like Gooseberry
Pye & Gooseberry pudding very much. — Is that the
same Chaffinches Nest that we saw before we went
away ? & pray will you send me another printed
Letter when you write to Aunt Jane again — If you
like it. —
E A
( 78 )
23] From Steventon to Godmersham
23. To Cassandra Austen . Saturday 25 Oct. 1800
Address : Miss Austen | Godmersham Park | Faversham | Kent
Postmarks : overton and oct 2 (8 ?) 1800
Pierpont Morgan Library, 2 leaves 4°,
Brabourne i, 230 ; Life 141 (extracts),
Steventon : Saturday evening Oct 25.
My dear Cassandra
I am not yet able to acknowledge the receipt of any
parcel from London, which I suppose will not occasion
you much surprise. — I was a little disappointed today,
but not more than is perfectly agreable ; & I hope to
be disappointed again tomorrow, as only one coach
comes down on Sundays. — You have had a very
pleasant Journey of course, & have found Elizabeth
& all the Children very well on your arrival at God-
mersham, & I congratulate you on it. Edward is
rejoicing this evening I dare say to find himself once
more at home, from which he fancies he has been
absent a great while. — His son left behind him the very
fine chestnuts which had been selected for planting at
Godmersham, & the drawing of his own which he had
intended to carry to George ; — the former will there-
fore be deposited in the soil of Hampshire instead of
Kent ; the latter, I have already consigned to another
Element. We have been exceedingly busy ever since
you went away. In the first place we have had to
rejoice two or three times every day at your having
such very delightful weather for the whole of your
Journey — & in the second place we have been obliged
to take advantage of the delightful weather ourselves
by going to see almost all our Neighbours. — On Thurs-
day we walked to Deane, yesterday to Oakley Hall &
(74)
Saturday 25 October 1800 [28
Oakley, & today to Deane again.— At Oakley Hall we
did a great deal eat some sandwiches all over mus-
tard, admired Mr. Bramston’s Porter & Mrs. Bram-
ston s Transparencies, & gained a promise from the
latter of two roots of hearts-ease, one all yellow & the
other all purple, for you. At Oakley we bought ten
pair of worsted stockings, & a shift.— The shift is for
Betty Dawkins, as we find she wants it more than
a rug— She is one of the most grateful of all whom
Edward’s charity has reached, or at least she expresses
herself more warmly than the rest, for she sends him
a 4 sight of thanks.’ This morning we called at the
Harwoods, & in their dining-room found Heathcote
& Chute for ever— Mrs. W m Heathcote & Mrs. Chute—
the first of whom took a long ride yesterday morning
with Mrs. Harwood into Lord Carnarvon’s Park &
fainted away in the evening, & the second walked
down from Oakley Hall attended by Mrs. Augusta
Bramston. They had meant to come on to Steventon
afterwards, but we knew a trick worth two of that. —
If I had thought of it in time, I would have said some-
thing civil to her about Edward’s never having had
any serious idea of calling on Mr. Chute while he was
in Hampshire ; but unluckily it did not occur to me. —
Mrs. Heathcote is gone home today ; Catherine had
paid her an early visit at Deane in the morning, &
brought a good account of Harris. — James went to
Winchester fair yesterday, & bought a new horse ;
& Mary has got a new maid — two great acquisitions,
one comes from Folly Farm, is about five years old,
used to draw, & thought very pretty ; & the other is
neice to Dinah at Kintbury. — James called by my
father’s desire on Mr. Bayle to inquire into the cause
(75)
23] From Steventon to Godtnersham
of his being so horrid. — Mr. Bayle did not attempt to
deny his being horrid, & made many apologies for it ; —
he did not plead his having a drunken self, he talked
only of a drunken foreman &c &c, & gave hopes of the
Table’s being at Steventon on Monday se’night next. —
We have had no letter since you left us, except one
from Mr. Serle of Bishop’s Stoke to enquire the
character of James Elton. — Our whole Neighbourhood
is at present very busy greiving over poor Mrs. Martin,
who has totally failed in her business, & had very
lately an execution in her house. — Her own Brother
& Mr. Rider are the principal creditors, & they have
seized her effects in order to prevent other people’s
doing it. — There has been the same affair going on, we
are told, at Wilson’s, & my hearing nothing of you
makes me apprehensive that You, your fellow travel-
lers & all your effects, might be seized by the Bailiffs
when you stopt at the Crown & sold altogether for the
benefit of the creditors. In talking of Mr. Deedes’s
new house, Mrs. Bramston told us one circumstance,
which, that we should be ignorant of it before must
make Edward’s conscience fly into his face ; she told
us that one of the sitting rooms at Sandling, an oval
room with a Bow at one end, has the very remarkable
& singular feature of a fireplace with a window, the
centre window of the Bow, exactly over the mantle-
peice. — Sunday. — This morning’s unpromising aspect
makes it absolutely necessary for me to observe once
more how peculiarly fortunate you have been in your
weather, and then I will drop the subject for ever. —
Our Improvements have advanced very well ; — the
Bank along the Elm Walk is sloped down for the recep-
tion of Thorns & Lilacs ; & it is settled that the other
( 76 )
Saturday 25 October 1800 [28
side of the path is to continue turf’d & be planted with
Beech, Ash, & Larch.— Monday. I am glad I had no
means of sending this yesterday, as I am now able to
thank you for executing my Commissions so well.—
I like the Gown very much & my mother thinks it very
ugly. — I like the Stockings also very much & greatly
prefer having only two pair of that quality to three of
an inferior sort. — The Combs are very pretty, & I am
much obliged to you for your present ; but am sorry
you should make me so many. — The Pink Shoes are
not particularly beautiful, but they fit me very well —
the others are faultless. — I am glad that I have still
my Cloak to expect. Among my other obligations,
I must not omit to number your writing me so long
a letter in a time of such hurry. I am amused by your
going to Milgate at last, — & glad that you have so
charming a day for your Journey home. —
My father approves his Stockings very highly — &
finds no fault with any part of Mrs. Hancock’s bill
except the charge of 8s 6 d for the Packing box.
The weather does not know how to be otherwise
than fine. — I am surprised that Mrs. Marriot should
not be taller — Surely You have made a mistake. — Did
Mr. Roland make you look well ? —
Yours affec ly
J. A.
24]
From Steventon to Godmersham
24. To Cassandra Austen. Saturday 1 Nov. 1800
Address : Miss Austen | Godmersham Park | Faversham | Kent
Postmark : nov 3 1800
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabourne i. 235 ; Life 143 (extracts).
Steventon : Saturday Nov 1 st .
My dear Cassandra
You have written I am sure, tho’ I have received
no letter from you since your leaving London ; — the
Post, & not yourself must have been unpunctual. — We
have at last heard from Frank ; a letter from him to
you came yesterday, & I mean to send it on as soon as
I can get a ditto, (that means a frank,) which I hope to
do in a day or two. — En attendant, You must rest
satisfied with knowing that on the 8th of July the
Petterell with the rest of the Egyptian Squadron was
off the Isle of Cyprus, whither they went from Jaffa
for Provisions &c., & whence they were to sail in a day
or two for Alexandria, there to wait the result of the
English proposals for the Evacuation of Egypt. The
rest of the letter, according to the present fashionable
stile of Composition, is cheifly Descriptive ,* of his
Promotion he knows nothing, & of Prizes he is guilt-
less. — Your letter is come ; it came indeed twelve
lines ago, but I could not stop to acknowledge it before,
& I am glad it did not arrive till I had completed my
first sentence, because the sentence had been made
ever since yesterday, & I think forms a very good
beginning. — Your abuse of our Gowns amuses, but does
not discourage me ; I shall take mine to be made up
next week, & the more I look at it, the better it pleases
me. — My Cloak came on tuesday, & tho’ I expected
(T8)
Saturday 1 November 1800 [24
a good deal, the beauty of the lace astonished me. —
It is too handsome to be worn, almost too handsome
to be looked at. — The Glass is all safely arrived also,
& gives great satisfaction. The wine glasses are much
smaller than I expected, but I suppose it is the proper
size. — We find no fault with your manner of perform-
ing any of our commissions, but if you like to think
yourself remiss in any of them, pray do. — My Mother
was rather vexed that you could not go to Penlington’s,
but she has since written to him, which does just as
well. — Mary is disappointed of course about her
Locket, & of course delighted about the Mangle which
is safe at Basingstoke. — You will thank Edward for it
on their behalf &c. &c., & as you know how much it
was wished for, will not feel that you are inventing
Gratitude. — Did you think of our Ball on thursday
evening, & did you suppose me at it ? — You might
very safely, for there I was. — On Wednesday morning
it was settled that Mrs. Harwood, Mary & I should go
together, and shortly afterwards a very civil note of
invitation for me came from Mrs. Bramston, who
wrote I belei ve as soon as she knew of the Ball. I might
likewise have gone with Mrs. Lefroy, & therefore with
three methods of going, I must have been more at the
Ball than anybody else. — I dined & slept at Deane. —
Charlotte & I did my hair, which I fancy looked very
indifferent ; nobody abused it however, & I retired
delighted with my success. — It was a pleasant Ball,
& still more good than pleasant, for there were nearly
60 people, & sometimes we had 17 couple. — The
Portsmouths, Dorchesters, Boltons, Portals & Clerks
were there, & all the meaner & more usual &c. &c.’s. —
There was a scarcity of Men in general, & a still greater
(79)
24] From Steventon to Godmersham
*
scarcity of any that were good for much. — I danced
nine dances out of ten, five with Stephen Terry,
T. Chute & James Digweed & four with Catherine. —
There was commonly a couple of Ladies standing up
together, but not often any so amiable as ourselves. —
I heard no news, except that Mr. Peters who was not
there, is supposed to be particularly attentive to Miss
Lyford. — You were enquired after very prettily, & I
hope the whole assembly now understands that you
are gone into Kent, which the families in general
seemed to meet in ignorance of. — Lord Portsmouth
r
surpassed the rest in his attentive recollection of you,
enquired more into the length of your absence, & con-
cluded by desiring to be ‘ remembered to you when
I wrote next.’ — Lady Portsmouth had got a different
dress on, & Lady Bolton is much improved by a wig. —
The three Miss Terries were there, but no Anne ; —
which was a great disappointment to me ; I hope the
poor girl had not set her heart on her appearance that
Even 8 so much as I had. — Mr. Terry is ill, in a very low
way. I said civil things for Edward to Mr. Chute, who
amply returned them by declaring that had he known
of my brother’s being at Steventon he should have
made a point of calling on him to thank him for his
civility about the Hunt. — I have heard from Charles,
& am to send his shirts by half dozens as they are
finished ; — one sett will go next week. — The Endymion
is now waiting only for orders, but may wait for them
perhaps a month. — Mr. Coulthard was unlucky in very
narrowly missing another unexpected Guest at Chaw-
ton, for Charles had actually set out & got half the
way thither in order to spend one day with Edward,
but turned back on discovering the distance to be
( 80 )
Saturday 1 November 1800 [24
considerably more than he had fancied, & finding
himself & his horse to be very much tired.— I should
regret it the more if his friend Shipley had been of the
party, for Mr. Coulthard might not have been so well
pleased to see only one come at a time.
Miss Harwood is still at Bath, & writes word that
she never was in better health & never more happy.
Jos: Wakeford died last Saturday, & my father buried
him on Thursday. A deaf Miss Fonnereau is at Ashe,
which has prevented Mrs. Lefroy’s going to Worting
or Basingstoke, during the absence of Mr. Lefroy.
My Mother is very happy in the prospect of dressing
a new Doll which Molly has given Anna. My father’s
feelings are not so enviable, as it appears that the farm
cleared 300£ last year. — James & Mary went to
Ibthrop for one night last monday, & found Mrs. Lloyd
not in very good looks— Martha has been lately at
Kintbury, but is probably at home by this time.—
Mary’s promised maid has jilted her, & hired herself
elsewhere.— The Debaries persist in being afflicted at
the death of their Uncle, of whom they now say they
saw a great deal in London. — Love to all. — I am glad
George remembers me.
Yours very affec: tely
J. A.
I am very unhappy.— In re-reading your letter I
find I might have spared myself my Intelligence of
Charles. — To have written only what you knew
before ! — You may guess how much I feel.
I wore at the Ball your favourite gown, a bit of
muslin of the same round my head, border’d with
Mrs. Cooper’s band — & one little Comb. —
( 81 )
Q
25]
From Steventon to Godmersham
25. To Cassandra Austen. Saturday 8 Nov. 1800
Address : Miss Austen | Godmersham Park | Faversham | Kent
Postmarks : ovekton and nov 11 1800
L. A. Austen-Leigh. 2 leaves 4°.
Memoir 2 58 ; Life 145. A large part unpublished,
Steventon Saturday Even 8 — Nov* 8
My dear Cassandra,
Having j ust finished the first volume of Les Veillees
du Chateau, I think it a good opportunity for begin-
ning a letter to you while my mind is stored with
Ideas worth transmitting. — I thank you for so speedy
a return to my two last, & particularly thank you for
your anecdote of Charlotte Graham & her cousin
Harriet Bailey, which has very much amused both
my Mother & myself. If you can learn anything
farther of that interesting affair I hope you will men-
tion it. — I have two messages ; let me get rid of them,
& then my paper will be my own. — Mary fully in-
tended writing to you by M r Chute’s frank, & only
happened intirely to forget it — but will write soon —
& my father wishes Edward to send him a memo-
randum in your next letter, of the price of the hops. —
The Tables are come, & give general contentment.
I had not expected that they would so perfectly suit
the fancy of us all three, or that we should so well
agree in the disposition of them ; but nothing except
their own surface can have been smoother ; — The two
ends put together form our constant Table for every-
thing, & the centre peice stands exceedingly well under
the glass ; holds a great deal most commodiously,
without looking awkwardly. — They are both covered
with green baize & send their best Love. — The Pem-
(82)
Saturday 8 November 1800 [25
broke has got its destination by the sideboard, & my
mother has great delight in keeping her money &
papers locked up.— The little Table which used to
stand there, has most conveniently taken itself off into
the best bed-room, & we are now in want only of the
chiffoniere, which is neither finished nor come. — So
much for that subj ect ; I now come to another, of a
very different nature, as other subjects are very apt
to be. Earle Harwood has been again giving uneasi-
ness to his family, & Talk to the Neighbourhood ; in
the present instance however he is only unfortunate
& not in fault. — About ten days ago, in cocking a
pistol in the guard-room at Marcou, he accidentally
shot himself through the Thigh. Two young Scotch
Surgeons in the Island were polite enough to propose
taking off the Thigh at once, but to that he would not
consent ; & accordingly in his wounded state was put
on board a Cutter & conveyed to Haslar Hospital at
Gosport ; where the bullet was extracted, & where he
now is I hope in a fair way of doing well.— The surgeon
of the Hospital wrote to the family on the occasion,
& John Harwood went down to him immediately,
attended by James, whose object in going was to be
the means of bringing back the earliest Intelligence
to M r and M rs Harwood, whose anxious sufferings
particularly those of the latter, have of course been
dreadful. They went down on tuesday, & James
came back the next day, bringing such favourable
accounts as greatly to lessen the distress of the family
at Deane, tho it will probably be a long while before
M " Garwood can be quite at eas e.-One most
material comfort however they have ; the assurance
of it s being really an accidental wound, which is not
( 88 )
25 ] From Steventon to Godmersham
only positively declared by Earle himself, but is like-
wise testified by the particular direction of the bullet.
Such a wound could not have been received in a duel.
— At present he is going on very well, but the Surgeon
will not declare him to be in no danger.— John Har-
wood came back last night, & will probably go to him
again soon. James had not time at Gosport to take
any other steps towards seeing Charles, than the very
few which conducted him to the door of the assembly
room in the Inn, where there happened to be a Ball
on the night of their arrival. A likely spot enough
for the discovery of a Charles : but I am glad to say
that he was not of the party, for it was in general a
very ungenteel one, & there was hardly a pretty girl
in the room. — I cannot possibly oblige you by not
wearing my gown, because I have it made up on
purpose to wear it a great deal, & as the discredit will
be my own, I feel the less regret. — You must learn to
like it yourself & make it up at Godmersham ; it may
easily be done ; it is only protesting it to be very
beautiful, & you will soon think it so. — Yesterday was
a day of great business with me ; Mary drove me all in
the rain to Basingstoke, & still more all in the rain
back again, because it rained harder ; and soon after
our return to Dean a sudden invitation & an own
postchaise took us to Ash Park, to dine tete a tete
with M r Holder, M r Gauntlett & James Digweed ;
but our tete a tete was cruelly reduced by the non-
attendance of the two latter— We had a very quiet
evening, I beleive Mary found it dull, but I thought
it very pleasant. To sit in idleness over a good fire in
a well-proportioned room is a luxurious sensation. —
Sometimes we talked & sometimes we were quite
( 84 )
Saturday 8 November 1800
[25
silent ; I said tAvo or three amusing things, & M r
Holder made a feAV infamous puns. — I have had a
most affectionate letter from Buller ; I was afraid
he AA r ould oppress me by his felicity & his love for
his wife, but this is not the case ; he calls her simply
Anna without any angelic embellishments, for which I
respect & wish him happy — and throughout the whole
of his letter indeed he seems more engrossed by his
feelings towards our family, than towards her, which
you knoAV cannot give any one disgust. — He is very
pressing in his invitation to us all to come & see him
at Colyton, & my father is very much inclined to go
there next Summer. — It is a circumstance that may
considerably assist the Dawlish scheme. — Buller has
desired me to write again, to give him more particulars
of us all. — M r Heathcote met with a genteel little
accident the other day in hunting ; he got off to lead
his horse over a hedge or a house or a something, &
his horse in his haste trod upon his leg, or rather ancle
I beleive, & it is not certain whether the small bone
is not broke. — Harris seems still in a poor way, from
his bad habit of body ; his hand bled again a little the
other day, & D r Littlehales has been with him lately.
Martha has accepted Mary’s invitation for L d Ports-
mouth’s Ball. — He has not yet sent out his own
invitations, but that does not signify ; Martha comes,
& a Ball there must be. — I think it will be too early
in her Mother’s absence for me to return with her. —
M r Holder told W m Portal a few days ago that Edward
objected to the narrowness of the path which his
plantation has left in one part of the Rookery. — W m
Portal has since examined it himself, acknowledges it
to be much too narrow, & promises to have it altered.
(85)
25] From Steventon to Godmersham
He wishes to avoid the necessity of removing the end
of his plantation with it’s newly-planted quick &c, but
if a proper footpath cannot be made by poking away
the bank on the other side, he will not spare the
former. — I have finished this on Sunday morning
am y rs ever J A.
4
Sunday Evening —We have had a dreadful storm
of wind in the forepart of this day, which has done a
great deal of mischeif among our trees. — I was sitting
alone in the dining room, when an odd kind of crash
startled me — in a moment afterwards it was repeated ;
I then went to the window, which I reached just in
time to see the last of our two highly valued Elms
descend into the Sweep ! ! ! ! ! The other, which had
fallen I suppose in the first crash, & which was the
nearest to the pond, taking a more easterly direction
sunk amongst our screen of chesnuts and firs, knock-
ing down one spruce fir, beating off the head of
another, & stripping the two corner chesnuts of
several branches, in its fall. — This is not all. — One
large Elm out of two on the left hand side, as you
enter what I call the Elm walk, was likewise blown
down, the Maypole bearing the weathercock was broke
in two, and what I regret more than all the rest, is that
all the three Elms which grew in Hall’s meadow &
gave such ornament to it, are gone. — Two were blown
down, & the other so much injured that it cannot
stand, — I am happy to add however that no greater
Evil than the loss of Trees has been the consequence
of the Storm in this place, or in our immediate neigh-
bourhood. — We greive therefore in some comfort.
Y ou spend your time j ust as quietly & comfortably
( 86 )
Saturday 8 November 1800 [25
as I supposed you would— We have all seen & ad-
mired Fanny’s letter to her Aunt. -The Endymion
sailed on a cruize last friday.
I hope it is true that Edward Taylor is to marry
his cousin Charlotte. Those beautiful dark Eyes will
then adorn another Generation at least in all their
purity. —
M r Holder’s paper tells us that sometime in last
August, Capt: Austen & the Petterell were very active
in securing a Turkish Ship (driven into a Port in
Cyprus by bad weather) from the French. — He was
forced to burn her however. — You will see the account
in the Sun I dare say. —
26. To Martha Lloyd, Wednesday 12 Nov. <1800)
Address : Miss Lloyd | Up-Hurstbourne | Andover
Postmark : overton
Mrs. M. A. De Wolfe Howe. 2 leaves 4°.
Memoir 2 61 ; Life 148. A few sentences unpublished.
Steventon Wednesday Even 8 . Nov: r 12* b
My dear Martha
I did not receive your note yesterday till after
Charlotte had left Deane, or I would have sent my
answer by her, instead of being the means, as I now
must be, of lessening the Elegance of your new Dress
for the Hurstbourn Ball by the value of f. — You are
very good in wishing to see me at Ibthrop so soon, &
I am equally good in wishing to come to you ; I
beleive our Merit in that respect is much upon a par,
our Self-denial mutually strong. — Having paid this
tribute of praise to the Virtue of both, I shall have
done with Panegyric & proceed to plain matter of fact.
( 87 )
26] From Steventon to Martha Lloyd
— In about a fortnight’s time I hope to be with you ;
I have two reasons for not being able to come before ;
I wish so to arrange my visit as to spend some days
with you after your Mother’s return, in the 1 st place
that I may have the pleasure of seeing her, & in the
2 d , that I may have a better chance of bringing you
back with me. — Your promise in my favour was not
quite absolute, but if your Will is not perverse, you &
I will do all in our power to overcome your scruples of
conscience. — I hope we shall meet next week to talk
all this over, till we have tired ourselves with the very
idea of my visit, before my visit begins. — Our invita-
tions for the 19 tl1 are arrived, & very curiously are they
worded. — Mary mentioned to you yesterday poor
Earle’s unfortunate accident I dare say ; he does not
seem to be going on very well ; the two or three last
posts have brought rather less & less favourable
accounts of him. This morning’s letter states the
apprehensions of the Surgeon that the violent catch-
ings of his Patient have done material injury to the
bone, which from the first has appeared so nearly
broken that any particular irritation or sudden
movement might make the fracture certain. — John
Harwood is gone to Gosport again to day. — We have
two families of friends that are now in a most anxious
state ; for tho’ by a note from Catherine this morning
there seems now to be a revival of hope at Many down,
it’s continuance may be too reasonably doubted. —
M r . Heathcote however who has broken the small bone
of his leg, is so good as to be doing very well. It would
be really too much to have three people to care for 1—
Mary has heard from Cassandra to day ; she is now
gone with Edward & Elizabeth to the Cages for two
( 88 )
Wednesday 12 November 1800 [26
or three Nights. — You distress me cruelly by your re-
quest about Books ; I cannot think of any to bring
with me, nor have I any idea of our wanting them.
I come to you to be talked to, not to read or hear
reading. I can do that at home ; & indeed I am now
laying in a stock of intelligence to pour out on you as
my share of Conversation. — I am reading Henry’s
History of England, which I will repeat to you in any
manner you may prefer, either in a loose, disultary,
unconnected strain, or dividing my recital as the
Historian divides it himself, into seven parts, The
Civil & Military — Religion — Constitution — Learning
& Learned Men — Arts & Sciences — Commerce Coins
& Shipping— & Manners ; — so that for every evening
of the week there will be a different subject ; The
friday’s lot, Commerce, Coin & Shipping, You will
find the least entertaining ; but the next Evengr’s
portion will make amends. — With such a provision on
my part, if you will do your’s by repeating the French
Grammar, & M r8 Stent will now & then ejaculate
some wonder about the Cocks & Hens, what can we
want ? — Farewell for a short time — You are to dine
here on tuesday to meet James Digweed, whom you
must wish to see before he goes into Kent. — We all
unite in best Love, & I am
Y r very affec ,e JA. —
It is reported at Portsmouth that Sir T. Williams is
going to be married — It has been reported indeed
twenty times before, but Charles is inclined to give
some credit to it now, as they hardly ever see him on
board, & he looks very much like a Lover. —
Thursday. — The Harwoods have received a much
(89)
26] From Steventon to Martha Lloyd
better account of Earle this morning ; & Charles, from
whom I have just had a letter, has been assured by the
Hospital-Surgeon that the wound is in as favourable
a state as can be.
27. To Cassandra Austen. Thursday 20 Nov. 1800
Address : Miss Austen | Godmersham Park | Faversham | Kent
Postmarks : overton and nov 22 00
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Braboumc i. 241 ; Life 150 (extracts). A few words unpublished.
Steventon Thursday Nov r 20 tft
My dear Cassandra
Your letter took me quite by surprise this morning ;
you are very welcome however, & I am very much
obliged to you. — I beleive I drank too much wine last
night at Hurstboume ; I know not how else to
account for the shaking of my hand today You will
kindly make allowance therefore for any indistinct-
ness of writing by attributing it to this venial Error.
Naughty Charles did not come on tuesday ; but good
Charles came yesterday morning. About two o’clock
he walked in on a Gosport Hack.— His feeling equal
to such a fatigue is a good sign, & his finding no
fatigue in it a still better.— We walked down to Deane
to dinner, he danced the whole Evening, & today is no
more tired than a gentleman ought to be.— Your
desiring to hear from me on Sunday will perhaps bring
in you a more particular account of the Ball than you
may care for, because one is prone to think much
more of such things the morning after they happen,
than when time has entirely driven them out of one’s
recollection.— It was a pleasant Evening, Charles
(90)
Thursday 20 November 1800 [27
found it remarkably so, but I cannot tell why, unless
the absence of Miss Terry— towards whom his con-
science reproaches him with now being perfect indif-
ferent was a releif to him. — There were only twelve
dances, of which I danced nine, & was merely pre-
vented from dancing the rest by the want of a partner.
—We began at 10, supped at 1, & were at Deane
before 5.— There were but 50 people in the room;
very few families indeed from our side of the Country*
& not many more from the other. — My partners were
the two St. Johns, Hooper Holder — and very pro-
digious— Mr. Mathew, with whom I called the last,
& whom I liked the best of my little stock.— There
were very few Beauties, & such as there were, were
not very handsome. Miss Iremonger did not look
well, & Mrs. Blount was the only one much admired.
She appeared exactly as she did in September, with
the same broad face, diamond bandeau, white shoes,
husband, & fat neck. — The two Miss Coxes were
there ; I traced in one the remains of the vulgar,
broad featured girl who danced at Enham eight years
a g° [ — the other is refined into a nice, composed
looking girl like Catherine Bigg.— I looked at Sir
Thomas Champneys & thought of poor Rosalie ; I
looked at his daughter & thought her a queer animal
with a white neck. Mrs. Warren, I was constrained
to think a very fine young woman, which I much
regret. She has got rid of some part of her child, &
danced away with great activity, looking by no means
very large.— Her husband is ugly enough ; uglier even
than his cousin John ; but he does not look so very
old.— The Miss Maitlands are both prettyish ; very
like Anne ; with brown skins, large dark eyes, & a good
(91)
27] From Steventon to Godmersham
deal of nose.— The General has got the Gout, and
Mrs. Maitland the Jaundice.— Miss Debary, Susan &
Sallv all in black, but without any Statues, made their
appearance, & I was as civil to them as their bad
breath would allow me. They told me nothing new
of Martha.— I mean to go to her on Thursday, unless
Charles should determine on coming over again with
bis friend Shipley for the Basingstoke ball, in which
case I shall not go till friday.-I shall write to you
again however before I set off, & I shall hope to hear
from you in the mean time. If I do not stay for the
Ball, I would not on any account do so uncivil a thing
bv the Neighbourhood as to set off at that very time
for another place, & shall therefore make a point of
not being later than Thursday morning .— Mary sa,id
that I looked very well last night ; I wore my aunt s
e own & handkercheif, & my hair was at least tidy,
which was all my ambition.— I will now have done
with the Ball ; & I will moreover go and dress tor
dinner . — Thursday Even*. Charles leaves us on satin-
day, unless Henry should take us m his way to the
Island, of which we have some hopes, & then they
will probably go together on ^y.-The young lady
whom it is suspected that Sir Thomas is to marry,
Miss Emma Wabshaw she lives somewhere between
Southampton and Winchester, is handsome, accom-
plished, amiable, & everything but rich. -He is ^ cer-
tainly finishing his house m a great hurry. Perhaps
the report of his being to marry a Miss Fanshawe
might originate in his attentions to this very lady ,
the names are not unlike.-Miss Summers has made
m v gown very well indeed, & I grow more and more
nleased with it.— Charles does not like it, but my
(92)
Thursday 20 November 1800 [27
father and Mary do ; my Mother is very much
rec<oncile)d to it, & as for James, he gives it the
preference over everything of the kind he ever saw ;
in proof of which I am desired to say that if you like
to sell yours, Mary will buy it. — We had a very
pleasant day on monday at Ashe ; we sat down 14 to
dinner in the study, the dining room being not habit-
able from the Storm’s having blown down it’s chimney.
— Mrs. Bramston talked a good deal of nonsense,
which Mr. Bramston & Mr. Clerk seemed almost
equally to enjoy. — There was a whist & a casino table,
& six outsiders. — Rice & Lucy made love, Mat: Robin-
son fell asleep, James & Mrs. Augusta alternately read
Dr. Jenner’s pamphlet on the cow pox, & I bestowed
my company by turns on all. On enquiring of Mrs.
Clerk, I find that Mrs. Heathcote made a great blunder
in her news of the Crooks & Morleys ; it is young
Mr. Crooke who is to marry the second Miss Morley —
& it is the Miss Morleys instead of the second Miss
Crooke, who were the beauties at the Music meeting. — •
This seems a more likely tale, a better devised Im-
postor. — The three Digweeds all came on tuesday, &
we played a pool at Commerce. — James Digweed left
Hampshire today. I think he must be in love with
you, from his anxiety to have you go to the Faversham
Balls, & likewise from his supposing, that the two
Elms fell from their greif at your absence. Was not it
a galant idea ? — It never occurred to me before, but
I dare say it was so. — Hacker has been here today,
putting in the fruit trees. — A new plan has been
suggested concerning the plantation of the new in-
closure on the right hand side of the Elm Walk — the
doubt is whether it would be better to make a little
( 93 )
27] From Steventon to Godmersham
orchard of it, by planting apples, pears & cherries, or
whether it should be larch, Mountain-ash & acacia. —
What is your opinion ? — I say nothing, & am ready
to agree with anybody. — You & George walking to
Eggerton ! — What a droll party ! — Do the Ashford
people still come to Godmersham Church every Sun-
day in a cart ? — It is you that always disliked Mr. N.
Toke so much, not I . — I do not like his wife, & I do
not like Mr. Brett, but as for Mr. Toke, there are few
people whom I like better. — Miss Harwood & her
friend have taken a house 15 miles from Bath ; she
writes very kind letters, but sends no other particulars
of the situation. — Perhaps it is one of the first houses
in Bristol. — Farewell. Charles sends you his best love
& Edward his worst. — If you think the distinction
improper, you may take the worst yourself. — He will
write to you when he gets back to his Ship — & in the
meantime desires that you will consider me as
Your affec: sister
J. A.
Charles likes my gown now.
Friday. — I have determined to go on Thursday, but
of course not before the post comes in. — Charles is in
very good looks indeed. I had the comfort of finding
out the other evening who all the fat girls with short
noses were that disturbed me at the 1st H. ball. They
all prove to be Miss Atkinsons of En<. . . •>.
I rejoice to say that we have just had another letter
from our dear Frank. — It is to you, very short, written
from Larnica in Cyprus & so lately as the 2 d of
October. — He came from Alexandria & was to return
there in 3 or 4 days, knew nothing of his promotion,
& does not write above twenty lines, from a doubt
( 94 )
Thursday 20 November 1800
of the letter’s ever reaching you & an idea of all letters
being open d at Vienna. — He wrote a few days before
to you from Alexandria by the Mercury, sent with
dispatches to Lord Keith. — Another letter must be
oweing to us besides this , — one if not two — because
none of these are to me. — Henry comes tomorrow, for
one night only. —
My mother has heard from Mrs. E. Leigh. Lady S
& S and her daughter are going to remove to Bath.
Mrs. Estwick is married again to a Mr. Sloane,
a young Man under age— without the knowledge of
either family. — He bears a good character however. — •
28. To Cassandra Austen . Sunday 30 Nov, 1800
Address : Miss Austen | Godmersham Park | Faversham | Kent
Postmarks : andover and dec 2 1800
L. A. Austen-Leigh. 2 leaves 4°.
Life 153. A large part unpublished.
Ibthrop Sunday Nov r 30 th
My dear Cassandra
Shall you expect to hear from me on Wednesday
or not ? — I think you will, or I should not write, as
the three days & half which have passed since my last
letter was sent, have not produced many materials
towards filling another sheet of paper. — But like M rs
Hastings, I do not despair ’ — & you perhaps like the
faithful Maria may feel still more certain of the happy
Event. I have been here ever since a quarter after
three on thursday last, by the Shrewsbury Clock,
which I am fortunately enabled absolutely to ascer-
tain, because Mrs. Stent once lived at Shrewsbury, or
28] From Ibthrop to Godmersham
at least at Tewksbury. — I have the pleasure of think-
ing myself a very welcome Guest, & the pleasure of
spending my time very pleasantly. — Martha looks very
well, & wants me to find out that she grows fat ; but
I cannot carry my complaisance farther than to
beleive whatever she asserts on the subject. — Mrs.
Stent gives us quite as much of her company as we
wish for, & rather more than she used to do ; but
perhaps not more than is to our advantage in the end,
because it is too dirty even for such desperate walkers
as Martha and I to get out of doors, & we are therefore
confined to each other’s society from morning till
night, with very little variety of Books or Gowns.
Three of the Miss Debaries called here the morning
after my arrival, but I have not yet been able to return
their civility ; — You know it is not an uncommon
circumstance in this parish to have the road from
Ibthrop to the Parsonage much dirtier and more
impracticable for walking than the road from the
Parsonage to Ibthrop. — I left my Mother very well
when I came away, & left her with strict orders to
continue so. — My Journey was safe & not unpleasant ;
— I spent an hour in Andover, of which Mess" Painter
& Pridding had the larger part ; — twenty minutes
however fell to the lot of M rs Poore & her mother,
whom I was glad to see in good looks & spirits. — The
latter asked me more questions than I had very well
time to answer ; the former I beleive is very big ;
but I am by no means certain ; — she is either very
big, or not at all big, I forgot to be accurate in my
observation at the time, & tho’ my thoughts are now
more about me on the subject, the power of exercising
them to any effect is much diminished. — The two
( 96 )
Sunday 80 November 1800 [28
youngest boys only were at home ; I mounted the
highly-extolled staircase & went into the elegant
Drawing room, which I fancy is now M” Harrison’s
apartment , and in short did everything that extra-
ordinary Abilities can be supposed to compass in so
short a space of time. — The endless Debaries are of
course very well acquainted with the lady who is to
marry Sir Thomas, & all her family. I pardon them
however, as their description of her is favourable.
M rs Wapshire is a widow, with several sons &
daughters, a good fortune, & a house in Salisbury ;
where Miss Wapshire has been for many years a dis-
tinguished beauty. — She is now seven or eight &
twenty, and tho’ still handsome less handsome than
she has been. — This promises better, than the bloom
of seventeen ; & in addition to this, they say that she
has always been remarkable for the propriety of her
behaviour, distinguishing her far above the general
class of Town Misses, & rendering her of course very
unpopular among them. — I hope I have now gained
the real truth, & that my letters may in future go on
without conveying any farther contradictions of what
was last asserted about Sir Thomas Williams and Miss
Wapshire. — I wish I could be certain that her name
were Emma ; but her being the Eldest daughter
leaves that circumstance doubtful. At Salisbury the
match is considered as certain & as near at hand. —
Martha desires her best love, & will be happy to
welcome any letter from you to this house, whether
it be addressed to herself or to me — and in fact, the
difference of direction will not be material. — She is
pleased with my Gown, & particularly bids me say
that if you could see me in it for five minutes, she is
(97) H
28] From Ibthrop to Godmersham
sure you would be eager to make up your own. —
I have been obliged to mention this, but have not
failed to blush the whole time of my writing it. — Part
of the money & time which I spent at Andover were
devoted to the purchase of some figured cambric
muslin for a frock for Edward — a circumstance from
which I derive two pleasing reflections ; it has in the
first place opened to me a fresh source of self-con-
gratulation on being able to make so munificent a
present, & secondly it has been the means of informing
me that the very pretty manufacture in question
may be bought for p 1 y a — yard & half wide. —
Martha has promised to return with me, & our plan
is to have a nice black frost for walking to White-
church, & there throw ourselves into a postchaise,
one upon the other, our heads hanging out at one
door, & our feet at the opposite. — If you have never
heard that Miss Dawes has been married these two
months, I will mention it in my next. — Pray do not
forget to go to the Canterbury Ball. I shall despise
you all most insufferably if you do. — By the bye,
there will not be any Ball, because Delmar lost so
much by the Assemblies last winter that he has pro-
tested against opening his rooms this year. — I have
charged my Myrmidons to send me an account of the
Basingstoke Ball ; I have placed my spies at different
places that they may collect the more ; & by so doing,
by sending Miss Bigg to the Townhall itself, & post-
ing my Mother at Steventon I hope to derive from
their various observations a good general idea of the
whole. —
Monday. — Martha has this moment received your
letter — I hope there is nothing in it requiring an
( 98 )
Sunday 30 November 1800 [28
immediate answer as we are at dinner, & she has
neither time to read nor I to write. Y rs ever
J A.
29. To Cassandra Austen. Saturday 3 Jan. 1801
Address : Miss Austen | Godmersham Park | Faversham | Kent
Postmarks : overton and jan 6 1801
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabourne i. 248 ; Life 156 (extracts).
Steventon : Saturday Jan ry 3 d .
My dear Cassandra
As you have by this time received my last letter, it
is fit that I should begin another ; & I begin with the
hope, which is at present uppermost in my mind, that
you often wore a white gown in the morning, at the
time of all the gay party’s being with you. Our visit
at Ash Park last Wednesday, went off in a come-ca
way ; we met Mr. Lefroy & Tom Chute, played at
cards & came home again. — James & Mary dined here
on the following day, & at night Henry set off in the
Mail for London. — He was as agreable as ever during
his visit, & has not lost anything in Miss Lloyd’s
estimation.— Yesterday, we were quite alone, only our
four selves ; but today the scene is agreeably varied
by Mary’s driving Martha to Basingstoke, & Martha’s
afterwards dining at Deane.— My Mother looks for-
ward with as much certainty as you can do, to our
keeping two Maids — my father is the only one not in
the secret. — We plan having a steady Cook, & a young
giddy Housemaid, with a sedate, middle aged Man,
who is to undertake the double office of Husband to
the former & sweetheart to the latter.— No Children
(99)
From Steventon to Godmersham
29 ]
of course to be allowed on either side. — You feel more
for John Bond, than John Bond deserves ; — I am
sorry to lower his Character, but he is not ashamed to
own himself, that he has no doubt at all of getting
a good place, & that he had even an offer many years
ago from a Farmer Paine of taking him into his
service whenever he might quit my father’s. — There
are three parts of Bath which we have thought of as
likely to have Houses in them. — Westgate Buildings,
Charles Street, & some of the short streets leading
from Laura Place or Pulteney St: Westgate Build-
ings, tho’ quite in the lower part of the Town are not
badly situated themselves ; the street is broad, & has
rather a good appearance. Charles Street however
I think is preferable ; the buildings are new, & it’s
nearness to Kingsmead fields would be a pleasant
circumstance. — Perhaps you may remember, or per-
haps you may forget that Charles Street leads from
the Queen Square Chapel to the two Green park-
Streets. — The Houses in the streets near Laura Place
I should expect to be above our price. — Gay Street
would be too high, except only the lower house on the
left hand side as you ascend ; towards that my Mother
has no disinclination it used to be lower rented than
any other house in the row, from some inferiority in
the apartments. But above all other’s, her wishes are
at present fixed on the corner house in Chapel row,
which opens into Prince’s Street. Her knowledge of
it however is confined only to the outside, & therefore
she is equally uncertain of it’s being really desirable
as of its being to be had. — In the meantime she assures
you that she will do everything in her power to avoid
Trim St altho’ you have not expressed the fearful
( 100 )
Saturday 3 January 1801 [29
presentiment, of it, which was rather expected. — We
know that Mrs. Perrot will want to get us into Axford
Buildings, but we all unite in particular dislike of that
part of the Town, & therefore hope to escape. Upon
all these different situations, You and Edward may
confer together, & your opinion of each will be
expected with eagerness. — As to our Pictures, the
Battle peice, Mr. Nibbs, Sir W m East, & all the old
heterogenous, miscellany, manuscript, Scriptoral peices
dispersed over the House are to be given to James. —
Your own Drawings will not cease to be your own — &
the two paintings on Tin will be at your disposal. —
My Mother says that the French agricultural Prints in
the best bed-room were given by Edward to his two
Sisters. Do you or he know anything about it ? — She
has written to my Aunt, & We are all impatient for
the answer. — I do not know how to give up the idea
of our both going to Paragon in May ; — Your going
I consider as indispensably necessary, & I shall not like
being left behind ; there is no place here or hereabouts
that I shall want to be staying at — & tho’ to be sure
the keep of two will be more than of one, I will
endeavour to make the difference less by disordering
my Stomach with Bath bunns ; & as to the trouble of
accomodating us, whether there are one or two, it is
much the same. — According to the first plan, my
mother & our two selves are to travel down together ;
& my father follow us afterwards— in about a fort-
night or three weeks. — We have promised to spend
a couple of days at Ibthrop in our way. — We must all
meet at Bath you know before we set out for the Sea,
& everything considered I think the first plan as good
as any. My father & mother wiselv aware of the
( 101 )
29] From Steventon to Godmersham
difficulty of finding in all Bath such a bed as their own,
have resolved on taking it with them ; — All the beds
indeed that we shall want are to be removed, viz: —
besides theirs, our own two, the best for a spare one,
& two for servants — and these necessary articles will
probably be the only material ones that it <wou)ld
answer to send down. — I do not think it will be worth
while to remove any of our chests of Drawers — We
shall be able to get some of a much more commo<dious>
form, made of deal, & painted to look very neat ;
& I flatter myself that for little comforts of all kinds,
our apartment will be one of the most complete things
of the sort all over Bath — Bristol included. — We have
thought at times of removing the side- board, or a pern-
broke table, or some other peice of furniture — but upon
the whole it has ended in thinking that the trouble
& risk of the removal would be more than the advan-
tage of having them at a place, where everything ma y
be purchased. Pray send your opinion. — Martha has
as good as promised to come to us again in March. —
Her spirits are better than they were. — I have now
attained the true art of letter-writing, which we are
always told, is to express on paper exactly what one
would say to the same person by word of mouth ;
I have been talking to you almost as fast as I could the
whole of this letter. — Your Christmas Gaieties are
really quite surprising ; I think they would satisfy
even Miss Walter herself. — I hope the ten shillings won
by Miss Foote may make everything easy between her
& her cousin Frederick. — So, Lady Bridges — in the
delicate language of Coulson Wallop, is in for it ! —
I am very glad to hear of the Pearsons’ good fortune. —
It is a peice of promotion which I know they looked
( 102 )
Saturday 3 January 1801 [29
forward to as very desirable some years ago, on Capt:
Lockyer’s illness. — It brings them a considerable
increase of Income, & a better house. — My Mother
bargains for having no trouble at all in furnishing our
house in Bath — & I have engaged for your willingly
undertaking to do it all. — I get more & more reconciled
to the idea of our removal. We have lived long enough
in this Neighbourhood, the Basingstoke Balls are
certainly on the decline, there is something interesting
in the bustle of going away, & the prospect of spending
future summers by the Sea or in Wales is very delight-
ful. — For a time we shall now possess many of the
advantages which I have often thought of with Envy
in the wives of Sailors or Soldiers. — It must not be
generally known however that I am not sacrificing
a great deal in quitting the Country — or I can expect
to inspire no tenderness, no interest in those we leave
behind. — The threatened Act of Parliament does not
seem to give any alarm.
My father is doing all in his power to encrease his
Income by raising his Tythes &c., & I do not despair
of getting very nearly six hundred a year. — In what
part of Bath do you mean to place your Bees ? — We
are afraid of the South Parade’s being too hot.
Monday . — Martha desires her best Love, & says
a great many kind things about spending some time
with you in March — & depending on a large return
from us both in the Autumn. — Perhaps I may not
write again before Sunday. —
Yours affec ly
J. A.
( 103 )
30 ]
From Steventon to Godmersham
00. T o Cassandra Austen. Thursday 8 Jan. 1801
Address : Miss Austen | Godmersham Park | Faversham | Kent
Postmarks : overton and jan 10 1801
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Braboume i. 255 ; Life 158 (extracts).
Steventon Thursday Jan f y 8 th
My dear Cassandra
The ‘ Perhaps ’ which concluded my last letter being
only a ‘ perhaps,’ will not occasion your being over-
powered with Surprise, I dare say, if you should receive
this before tuesday, which unless circumstances are
very perverse will be the case. — I received yours with
much general Philanthropy & still more peculiar good
will two days ago ; & I suppose I need not tell you that
it was very long, being written on a foolscap sheet,
& very entertaining, being written by you. — Mr. Payne
has been dead long enough for Henry to be out of
mourning for him before his last visit, tho’ we knew
nothing of it till about that time. Why he died, or
of what complaint, or to what Noblemen he bequeathed
his four daughters in marriage we have not heard. — I
am glad that the Wildmans’ are going to give a Ball,
& hope you will not fail to benefit both yourself & me,
by laying out a few kisses in the purchase of a frank. —
I beleive you are right in proposing to delay the
Cambric muslin, & I submit with a kind of voluntary
reluctance. — Mr. Peter Debary has declined Dean
curacy ; he wishes to be settled nearer London. A
foolish reason !, as if Deane were not near London in
comparison of Exeter or York. — Take the whole world
through, & he will find many more places at a greater
distance from London than Deane, than he will at
( 104 )
Thursday 8 January 1801 [30
a less.— What does he think of Glencoe or Lake
Katherine ?— I feel rather indignant that any possible
objection should be raised against so valuable a peice
of preferment, so delightful a situation !— that Deane
should not be universally allowed to be as near the
Metropolis as any other country villages. — As this is
the case however, as Mr. Peter Debary has shewn
himself a Peter in the blackest sense of the Word, We
are obliged to look elsewhere for an heir j & my father
has thought it a necessary compliment to James
Digweed to offer the Curacy to him, tho’ without
considering it as either a desirable or an eligible situa-
tion for him. — Unless he is in love with Miss Lyford,
I think he had better not be settled exactly in this
neighbourhood, & unless he is very much in love with
her indeed, he is not likely to think a salary of 50£
equal in value or efficacy to one of 75£.— Were you
indeed to be considered as one of the fixtures of the
house !— but you were never actually erected in it
either by Mr. Egerton Brydges or Mrs. Lloyd. —
Martha & I dined yesterday at Deane to meet the
Powletts & Tom Chute, which we did not fail to do.
Mrs. Powlett was at once expensively & nakedly
dress d ; we have had the satisfaction of estimating
her Lace & her Muslin ; & she said too little to afford
us much other amusement. — Mrs. John Lyford is so
much pleased with the state of widowhood as to be
going to put in for being a widow again ; — she is to
marry a Mr. Fendall, a banker in Gloucester, a man
of very good fortune, but considerably older than
herself & with three little children.— Miss Lyford has
never been here yet ; she can come only for a day,
& is not able to fix the dav. — I fancy Mr. Holder will
( 105 )
30] From Steventon to Godmersham
have the Farm, & without being obliged to depend on
the accomodating spirit of Mr. William Portal ; he
will probably have it for the remainder of my father’s
lease. — This pleases us all much better than it s falling
into the hands of Mr. Harwood or Farmer Twitchen.—
Mr. Holder is to come in a day or two to talk to my
father on the subject, & then John Bond’s interest
will not be forgotten. — I have had a letter today from
Mrs. Cooke. Mrs. Laurel is going to be married to
a Mr. Hinchman, a rich Fast Indian. I hope Mary
will be satisfied with this proof of her cousin’s existence
& welfare, & cease to torment herself with the idea
of his bones being bleaching in the Sun on Wantage
Downs. — Martha’s visit is drawing towards it’s close,
which we all four sincerely regret. — The wedding-day
is to be celebrated on the 16 th because the 17 th falls
on Saturday — & a day or two before the 16 th Mary
will drive her sister to Ibthrop to find all the festivity
she can in contriving for everybody’s comfort, & being
thwarted or teized by almost everybody’s temper.—
Fulwar, Eliza, & Tom Chute are to be of the party ;
I know of nobody else. — I was asked, but declined
it.— Eliza has seen Lord Craven at Barton, & probably
by this time at Kintbury, where he was expected for
one day this week. — She found his manners very
pleasing indeed— The little flaw of having a Mistress
now living with him at Ashdown Park, seems to be
the only unpleasing circumstance about him. — From
Ibthrop, Fulwar & Eliza are to return with J ames and
Mary to Deane. — The Rices are not to have an house
on Weyhill;— for the present he has Lodgings in
Andover, & they are in veiw of a dwelling hereafter in
Appleshaw, that village of wonderful Elasticity, which
( 106)
Thursday 8 January 1801 [80
stretches itsell out lor the reception of everybody who
does not wish for a house on Speen Hill.— Pray give
my love to George, tell him that I am very glad to
hear he can skip so well already, & that I hope he will
continue to send me word of his improvement in the
art. — I think you judge very wisely in putting off your
London visit — & I am mistaken if it be not put off for
some time.— You speak with such noble resignation
of Mrs. Jordan & the Opera House that it would be
an insult to suppose consolation required — but to
prevent your thinking with regret of this rupture
of your engagement with Mr. Smithson, I must
assure you that Henry suspects him to be a great
miser. —
Friday. No answer from my Aunt.— She has no
time for writing I suppose in the hurry of selling
furniture, packing cloathes & preparing for their
removal to Scarletts. — You are very kind in planning
presents for me to make, & my Mother has shewn me
exactly the same attention— but as I do not chuse to
have Generosity dictated to me, I shall not resolve on
giving my cabinet to Anna till the first thought of it
has been my own. Sidmouth is now talked of as our
summer abode ; get all the information therefore
about it that you can from Mrs. C. Cage.
My father’s old Ministers are already deserting him
to pay their court to his Son ; the brown Mare, which
as well as the black was to devolve on James at our
removal, has not had patience to wait for that, & has
settled herself even now at Deane.— The death of
Hugh Capet, which like that of Mr. Skipsey — tho’
undesired was not wholly unexpected, being purposely
effected, has made the immediate possession of the
(107)
30] From Steventon to Godmersham
Mare very convenient ; & everything else I suppose
will be seized by degrees in the same manner.— Martha
& I work at the books every day. —
Yours affec ly J. A.
31. To Cassandra Austen. Wednesday 14 Jan. <1801)
Address : Miss Austen | Godmersham Park | Faversham | Kent
Postmarks : overton and jan (figures illegible)
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 40.
Braboume i. 261 ; Life 159 (extracts).
Steventon : Wednesday Jan 17 14 th .
Poor Miss Austen ! — It appears to me that I have
rather oppressed you of late by the frequency of my
letters. You had hoped not to hear from me again
before tuesday but Sunday shewed you with what
a merciless Sister you had to deal. — I cannot recall the
past, but you shall not hear from me quite so often in
future. — Your letter to Mary was duly received before
she left Dean with Martha yesterday morning, & it
gives us great pleasure to know that the Chilham Ball
was so agreable & that you danced four dances with
Mr. Kemble. — Desirable however as the latter circum-
stance was I cannot help wondering at it s taking
place; Why did you dance four dances with so
stupid a Man ? — why not rather dance two of them
with some elegant brother-officer who was struck with
your appearance as soon as you entered the room ?
Martha left you her best Love ; she will write to you
herself in a short time ; but trusting to my memory
rather than her own, she has nevertheless desired me
to ask you to purchase for her two bottles of Steele s
Lavender Water when you are in Town, provided you
( 108 )
Wednesday 14 January 1801 [31
should go to the Shop on your own account ; — other-
wise you may be sure that she would not have you
recollect the request. James dined with us yesterday,
wrote to Edward in the Evening, filled three sides of
paper, every line inclining too much towards the
North-East, & the very first line of all scratched out,
and this morning he joins His lady in the fields of
Elysium & Ibthrop. — Last friday was a very busy day
with us. We were visited by Miss Lyford and Mr.
Bayle. — The latter began his operations in the house,
but had only time to finish the four sitting-rooms ;
the rest is deferred till the spring is more advanced &
the days longer. — He took his paper of appraisement
away with him, & therefore we only know the Esti-
mate he has made of one or two articles of furniture,
which my father particularly enquired into. I under-
stand hoAvever that he was of opinion that the whole
would amount to more than two hundred pounds, &
it is not imagined that this will comprehend the Brew-
house, & many other &c. &c. — Miss Lyford was very
pleasant, & gave my mother such an account of the
houses in Westgate Buildings, where Mrs. Lyford
lodged four years ago, as made her think of a situation
there with great pleasure ; but your opposition will
be without difficulty, decisive, & my father in particu-
lar who was very well inclined towards the Row before,
has now ceased to think of it entirely. — At present the
Environs of Laura-place seem to be his choice. His
veiws on the subject are much advanced since I came
home ; he grows quite ambitious, & actually requires
now a comfortable & a creditable looking house. — On
Saturday Miss Lyford went to her long home — that is
to say, it was a long way off ; & soon afterwards a
( 109 )
31] From Steventon to Godmersham '
them for expense, especially as Mrs. L. means to
advise them to put their washing out. —
Yours affec ly J. A.
32. To Cassandra Austen. Wednesday 21 Jan. 1801
Address : Miss Austen | Godmersham Park | Faversham | Kent
Postmarks : overton and jan 23 1801
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Braboume i. 266 ; Life 161 (extracts). Two sentences unpublished.
Steventon Wednesday Jan ry 21 st
Expect a most agreable Letter ; for not being over-
burdened with subject — (having nothing at all to say)
— I shall have no check to my Genius from beginning
to end. — Well — & so, Frank’s letter has made you
very happy, but you are afraid he would not have
patience to stay for the Haarlem, which you wish him
to have done as being safer than the Merchantman. —
Poor fellow ! to wait from the middle of November
to the end of December, & perhaps even longer ! it
must be sad work ! — especially in a place where the
ink is so abominably pale. — What a surprise to him it
must have been on the 20th of Oct r to be visited,
collar’d & thrust out of the Petterell by Capt“ Inglis !
— He kindly passes over the poignancy of his feelings
in quitting his Ship, his Officers & his Men. — What
a pity it is that he should not be in England at the
time of this promotion, because he certainly would
have had an appointment ! — so everybody says, &
therefore it must be right for me to say it too. — Had
he been really here, the certainty of the appointment
I dare say would not have been half so great — but as
( 112 )
Wednesday 21 January 1801 [32
it could not be brought to the proof, his absence will
be always a lucky source of regret.— Eliza talks of
having read in a Newspaper that all the 1st Lieut 8
of the Frigates whose Captains were to be sent into
Line-of-Battle ships, were to be promoted to the rank
of Commanders-. If it be true, Mr. Valentine may
afford himself a fine Valentine’s knot, & Charles may
perhaps become l 8t of the Endymion— tho’ I suppose
Capt: Durham is too likely to bring a villain with him
under that denomination. I dined at Deane yester-
day, as I told you I should ; — & met the two Mr.
Holders.— We played at Vingt-un, which as Fulwar
was unsuccessful, gave him an opportunity of exposing
himself as usual. — Eliza says she is quite well, but she
is thinner than when we saw her last, & not in verv
good looks. I suppose she has not recovered from the
effects of her illness in December.— She cuts her hair
too short over her forehead, & does not wear her cap
far enough upon her head in spite of these many
disadvantages however, I can still admire her beauty.—
They all dine here today. Much good may it do us all.
William & Tom are much as usual; Caroline is
improved in her person; I think her now really
a pretty Child. She is still very shy, & does not talk
much. Fulwar goes next month into Gloucestershire,
Leicestershire & Warwickshire, & Eliza spends the
time of his absence at Ibthrop & Deane ; she hopes
therefore to see you before it is long. Lord Craven
was prevented by Company at home, from paying his
visit at Kintbury, but as I told you before, Eliza is
greatly pleased with him, & they seem likely to be on
the most friendly terms.— Martha returns into this
country next tuesday, & then begins her two visits at
( 118 ) j
32 ] From Steventon to Godmersham
Deane. — I expect to see Miss Bigg every day, to fix
the time for my going to Manydown ; I think it will
be next week, & I shall give you notice of it if I can,
that you may direct to me there. — The Neighbourhood
have quite recovered the death of Mrs. Rider so
much so, that I think they are rather rejoiced at it
now ; her things were so very dear ! — & Mrs. Rogers
is to be all that is desirable. Not even Death itself can
fix the friendship of the World. —
You are not to give yourself the trouble of going to
Penlingtons when you are in Town ; my father is to
settle the matter when he goes there himself ; You are
only to take special care of the Bills of his in your
hands, & I dare say will not be sorry to be excused
the rest of the business. — Thursday. Our party yester-
day was very quietly pleasant. Today we all attack
Ash Park, & tomorrow I dine again at Deane. What
an eventful week ! — Eliza left me a message for you
which I have great pleasure in delivering ; she will write
to you & send you your Money next Sunday. — Mary
has likewise a message — . She will be much obliged to
you if you can bring her the pattern of the Jacket &
Trowsers, or whatever it is, that Eliz th ’s boys wear
when they are first put into breeches — ; or if you
could bring her an old suit itself she would be very
glad, but that I suppose is hardly do-able. I am
happy to hear of Mrs. Knight’s amendment, whatever
might be her complaint. I cannot think so ill of her
however in spite of your insinuations, as to suspect
her of having lain-in. — I do not think she would be
betrayed beyond an Accident at the utmost. The
Wylmots being robbed must be an amusing thing to
their acquaintance, & I hope it is as much their
( 114 )
Wednesday 21 January 1801 [82
pleasure as it seems their avocation to be subjects of
general Entertainment. — I have a great mind not to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter, which I have
just had the pleasure of reading, because I am so
ashamed to compare the sprawling lines of this with
it ! — But if I say all that I have to say, I hope I have
no reason to hang myself. — Caroline was only brought
to bed on the 7 th of this month, so that her recovery
does seem pretty rapid.— I have heard twice from
Edward on the occasion, & his letters have each been
exactly what they ought to be — chearful & amusing. —
He dares not write otherwise to me — but perhaps he
might be obliged to purge himself from the guilt of
writing Nonsense by filling his shoes with whole pease
for a week after wards .—Mrs . G. has left him 100£.— his
wife & son 500£. each. I join with you in wishing for
the Environs of Laura place, but do not venture to
expect it.— My Mother hankers after the Square dread-
fully, & it is but natural to suppose that my Uncle will
take her part.— It would be very pleasant to be near
Sidney Gardens 1 — we might go into the Labyrintli
every day. — You need not endeavour to match mv
mother’s mourning Calico—, she does not mean to
make it up any more.— Why did not J. D. make his
proposals to you ? I suppose he went to see the Cathe-
dral, that he might know how he should like to be
married in it. Fanny shall have the Boarding-school
as soon as her Papa gives me an opportunity of sending
it & I do not know whether I may not by that time
have worked myself up into so generous a fit as to
give it to her for ever. —
We have a Ball on Thursday too — . I expect to go
to it from Manydown. — Do not be surprised, or
(115)
32] From Steventon to Godmersham
imagine that Frank is come if I write again soon. It
will only be to say that I am going to M — & to answer
your <ques)tion about my Gown.
33. To Cassandra Austen . Sunday 25 Jan. <1801)
Address (Brabourne) : Miss Austen, Godmersham Park, Faversham,
Kent
Original not traced.
Brabourne i. 272 ; Life 162 (extracts).
Steventon : Sunday January 25.
I have nothing to say about Manydown, but I write
because you will expect to hear from me, and because
if I waited another day or two, I hope your visit to
Goodnestone would make my letter too late in its arrival.
I dare say I shall be at M. in the course of this week,
but as it is not certain you will direct to me at home.
I shall want two new coloured gowns for the sum-
mer, for my pink one will not do more than clear me
from Steventon. I shall not trouble you, however, to
get more than one of them, and that is to be a plain
brown cambric muslin, for morning wear ; the other,
which is to be a very pretty yellow and white cloud,
I mean to buy in Bath. Buy two brown ones, if you
please, and both of a length, but one longer than the
other — it is for a tall woman. Seven yards for my
mother, seven yards and a half for me ; a dark brown,
but the kind of brown is left to your own choice, and
I had rather they were different, as it will be always
something to say, to dispute about which is the
prettiest. They must be cambric muslin.
How do you like this cold weather ? I hope you
have all been earnestly praying for it as a salutary
(116)
Sunday 25 January 1801 [88
relief from the dreadfully mild and unhealthy season
preceding it, fancying yourself half putrified from the
want of it, and that now you all draw into the fire,
complain that you never felt such bitterness of cold
before, that you are half starved, quite frozen, and
wish the mild weather back again with all your hearts.
Your unfortunate sister was betrayed last Thursday
into a situation of the utmost cruelty. I arrived at
Ashe Park before the Party from Deane, and was shut
up in the drawing-room with Mr. Holder alone for ten
minutes. I had some thoughts of insisting on the
housekeeper or Mary Corbett being sent for, and
nothing could prevail on me to move two steps from
the door, on the lock of which I kept one hand
constantly fixed. We met nobody but ourselves,
played at vingt-un again, and were very cross.
On Friday I wound up my four days of dissipation
by meeting William Digweed at Deane, and am pretty
well, I thank you, after it. While I was there a sudden
fall of snow rendered the roads impassable, and made
my journey home in the little carriage much more easy
and agreeable than my journey down.
Fulwar and Eliza left Deane yesterday. You will
be glad to hear that Mary is going to keep another
maid. I fancy Sally is too much of a servant to find
time for everything, and Mary thinks Fidward is not
so much out of doors as he ought to be ; there is there-
fore to be a girl in the nursery.
I would not give much for Mr. Rice’s chance of
living at Deane ; he builds his hope, I find, not upon
anything that his mother has written, but upon the
effect of what he has written himself. He must write
a great deal better than those eyes indicate if he can
(117)
33] From Steventon to Godmersham
t ■
persuade a perverse and narrow-minded woman to
oblige those whom she does not love.
Your brother Edward makes very honourable men-
tion of you, I assure you, in his letter to James, and
seems quite sorry to part with you. It is a great com-
fort to me to think that my cares have not been
thrown away, and that you are respected in the world.
Perhaps you may be prevailed on to return with him
and Elizabeth into Kent, when they leave us in April,
and I rather suspect that your great wish of keeping
yourself disengaged has been with that view. Do as
you like ; I have overcome my desire of your going to
Bath with my mother and me. There is nothing
which energy will not bring one to.
Edward Cooper is so kind as to want us all to come
to Hamstall this summer, instead of going to the sea,
but we are not so kind as to mean to do it. The
summer after, if you please, Mr. Cooper, but for the
present we greatly prefer the sea to all our relations.
I dare say you will spend a very pleasant three
weeks in town. I hope you will see everything worthy
notice, from the Opera House to Henry’s office in
Cleveland Court ; and I shall expect you to lay in
a stock of intelligence that may procure me amuse-
ment for a twelvemonth to come. You will have
a turkey from Steventon while you are there, and pray
note down how many full courses of exquisite dishes
M. Halavant converts it into.
I cannot write any closer. Neither my affection for you
nor for letter- writing can stand out against a Kentish
visit. For a three months ’ absence I can be a very loving
relation and a very excellent correspondent, but beyond
that I degenerate into negligence and indifference.
(118)
Sunday 25 January 1801 [88
I wish you a very pleasant ball on Thursday, and
myself another, and Mary and Martha a third, but
they will not have theirs till Friday, as they have
a scheme for the Newbury Assembly.
Nanny’s husband is decidedly against her quitting
service in such times as these, and I believe would be
very glad to have her continue with us. In some
respects she would be a great comfort, and in some we
should wish for a different sort of servant. The wash-
ing would be the greatest evil. Nothing is settled,
however, at present with her, but I should think it
would be as well for all parties if she could suit herself
in the meanwhile somewhere nearer her husband and
child than Bath. Mrs. H. Rice’s place would be very
likely to do for her. It is not many, as she is herself
aware, that she is qualified for.
My mother has not been so well for many months
as she is now.
Adieu. Yours sincerely, J. A.
34. To Cassandra Austen. W ednesday 11 Feb. 1801
Address : Miss Austen | 24. Upper Berkeley Street | Portman
Square | London
Postmarks : Basingstoke and feb 13 1801
British Museum (1925). Formerly in the collection described in
Times Literary Supplement 14 Jan. 1926. 2 leaves 4°.
Memoir' 81 , Memoir 1 64 (extract) ; Life 163 (extract). A large part
unpublished.
Manydown Wednesday Feb 11 th
My dear Cassandra
As I have no M r Smithson to write of 1 can date
my letters. — Yours to my Mother has been forwarded
to me this morning, with a request that I would take
( 119 )
34] From Manydown to Berkeley Street
on me the office of acknowledging it. I should not
however have thought it necessary to write so soon,
but for the arrival of a letter from Charles to myself. —
It was written last Saturday from off the Start, &
conveyed to Popham Lane by Cap tn Boyle in his way
to Midgham. He came from Lisbon in the Endymion,
& I will copy Charles’ account of his conjectures about
Frank. — ‘ He has not seen my brother lately, nor does
he expect to find him arrived, as he met Capt: Inglis at
Rhodes going up to take command of the Petterel as
he was coming down, but supposes he will arrive in less
than a fortnight from this time, in some ship which is
expected to reach England about that time with dis-
patches from Sir Ralph Abercrombie.’ — The event
must shew what sort of a Conjuror Capt: Boyle is. —
The Endymion has not been plagued with any more
prizes. — Charles spent three pleasant days in Lisbon. —
They were very well satisfied with their Royal Pas-
senger, whom they found fat, jolly & affable, who
talks of Ly Augusta as his wife & seems much attached
to her. — When this letter was written, the Endymion
was becalmed, but Charles hoped to reach Portsmouth
by monday or tuesday ; and as he particularly enquires
for Henry’s direction, you will e’er long I suppose
receive further intelligence of him ; He received
my letter, communicating our plans, before he left
England, was much surprised of course, but is quite
reconciled to them, & means to come to Steventon
once more while Steventon is ours. — Such I beleive
are all the particulars of his Letter, that are
worthy of travelling into the Regions of Wit, Ele-
gance, fashion, Elephants & Kangaroons. My visit
to Miss Lyford begins tomorrow, & ends on Satur-
( 120 )
Wednesday 11 February 1801 [34
day , when X sl13.ll h&vc an opportunity of returning
here at no expence as the Carriage must take Cath:
to Basingstoke. — She meditates your returning into
Hampshire together, & if the Time should accord, it
would not be undesirable. She talks of staying only
a fortnight, & as that will bring your stay in Berkeley
Street to three weeks, I suppose you would not wish
to make it longer. — Do not let this however retard
your coming down, if you had intended a much
earlier return. — I suppose whenever you come, Henry
would send you in his carriage a stage or two, where
you might be met by John, whose protection you
would we imagine think sufficient for the rest of your
Journey. He might ride on the Bar, or might even
sometimes meet with the accomodation of a sunday-
chaise. — James has offered to meet you anywhere,
but as that would be to give him trouble without any
counterpoise of convenience, as he has no intention
of going to London at present on his own account,
we suppose that you would rather accept the atten-
tions of John. — We spend our time here as quietly as
usual. One long morning visit is what generally
occurs, & such a one took place yesterday. We went
to Baugherst. The place is not so pretty as I expected,
but perhaps the Season may be against the beauty of
Country. The house seemed to have all the comforts
of little Children, dirt & litter. M r Dyson as usual
looked wild, & M rs Dyson as usual looked big. — M r
Bramston called here the morning before, — et voila
tout. — I hope you are as well satisfied with having
my coloured Muslin Gown as a white one. Everybody
sends their Love — & I am sincerely yours
J A.
( 121 )
35]
From Bath to Ibthrop
35. To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday 5 May <1801 >
Address (Braboume) : Miss Austen, Mrs. Lloyd’s, Up Hurstboume,
Andover
Original not traced.
Braboume i. 278 ; Life 165 (extracts).
Paragon : Tuesday May 5
My dear Cassandra
I have the pleasure of writing from my own room
up two pair of stairs, with everything very comfort-
able about me.
Our journey here was perfectly free from accident
or event ; we changed horses at the end of every
stage, and paid at almost every turnpike. We had
charming weather, hardly any dust, and were exceed-
ingly agreeable, as we did not speak above once in
three miles.
Between Luggershall and Everley we made our
grand meal, and then with admiring astonishment
perceived in what a magnificent manner our support
had been provided for. We could not with the utmost
exertion consume above the twentieth part of the
beef. The cucumber will, I believe, be a very accept-
able present, as my uncle talks of having inquired the
price of one lately, when he was told a shilling.
We had a very neat chaise from Devizes ; it looked
almost as well as a gentleman’s, at least as a very
shabby gentleman’s ; in spite of this advantage, how-
ever, we were above three hours coming from thence
to Paragon, and it was half after seven by your clocks
before we entered the house.
Frank, whose black head was in waiting in the Hall
window, received us very kindly ; and his master and
( 122 )
Tuesday 5 May 1801 [35
mistress did not show less cordiality. They both look
very well, though my aunt has a violent cough. We
drank tea as soon as we arrived, and so ends the
account of our journey, which my mother bore without
any fatigue.
How do you do to-day ? I hope you improve in
sleeping — I think you must, because 1 fall off ; I have
been awake ever since five and sooner ; I fancy I had
too much clothes over me ; I thought I should by the
feel of them before I went to bed, but I had not
courage to alter them. I am warmer here without any
fire than I have been lately with an excellent one.
Well, and so the good news is confirmed, and
Martha triumphs. My uncle and aunt seemed quite
surprised that you and my father were not coming
sooner.
I have given the soap and the basket, and each
have been kindly received. One thing only among all
our concerns has not arrived in safety : when I got
into the chaise at Devizes I discovered that your
drawing ruler was broke in two ; it is just at the top
where the cross-piece is fastened on. I beg pardon.
There is to be only one more ball — next Monday is
the day. The Chamberlavnes are still here. I begin
to think better of Mrs. C , and upon recollection
believe she has rather a long chin than otherwise, as
she remembers us in Gloucestershire when we were
very charming young women.
The first view of Bath in fine weather does not
answer my expectations ; I think I see more distinctly
through rain. The sun was got behind everything,
and the appearance of the place from the top of Kings-
down was all vapour, shadow, smoke, and confusion.
( 123 )
35] From Bath to Ibtkrop
I fancy we are to have a house in Seymour Street,
or thereabouts. My uncle and aunt both like the
situation. I was glad to hear the former talk of all the
houses in New King Street as too small ; it was my
own idea of them. I had not been two minutes in the
dining-room before he questioned me with all his
accustomary eager interest about Frank and Charles,
their views and intentions. I did my best to give
information.
I am not without hopes of tempting Mrs. Lloyd to
settle in Bath ; meat is only 8 d. per pound, butterl2d.,
and cheese 9 \d. Y ou must carefully conceal from her,
however, the exorbitant price of fish : a salmon has
been sold at 25 . 9 d. per pound the whole fish. The
Duchess of York’s removal is expected to make that
article more reasonable — and till it really appears so,
say nothing about salmon.
Tuesday night . — When my uncle went to take his
second glass of water I walked with him, and in our
morning’s circuit we looked at two houses in Green
Park Buildings, one of which pleased me very well.
We walked all over it except into the garret ; the
dining-room is of a comfortable size, just as large as
you like to fancy it ; the second room about 14 ft.
square. The apartment over the drawing-room
pleased me particularly, because it is divided into two,
the smaller one a very nice-sized dressing-room, which
upon occasion might admit a bed. The aspect is
south-east. The only doubt is about the dampness
of the offices, of which there were symptoms.
Wednesday— Mrs. Mussell has got my gown, and
I will endeavour to explain what her intentions are.
It is to be a round gown, with a jacket and a frock
(124)
Tuesday 5 May 1801 [35
front, like Cath. Bigg’s, to open at the side. The
jacket is all in one with the body, and comes as far as
the pocket-holes — about half a quarter of a yard deep,
I suppose, all the way round, cut off straight at the
corners with a broad hem. No fulness appears either
in the_body or the flap ; the back is quite plain in this
form V, and the sides equally so. The front is sloped
round to the bosom and drawn in, and there is to be
a frill of the same to put on occasionally when all one’s
handkerchiefs are dirty — which frill must fall back.
She is to put two breadths and a-half in the tail, and
no gores — gores not being so much worn as they were.
There is nothing new in the sleeves : they are to be
plain, with a fulness of the same falling down and
gathered up underneath, just like some of Martha’s,
or perhaps a little longer. Low in the back behind,
and a belt of the same. I can think of nothing more,
though I am afraid of not being particular enough.
My mother has ordered a new bonnet, and so have
I ; both white strip, trimmed with white ribbon.
I find my straw bonnet looking very much like other
people’s, and quite as smart. Bonnets of cambric
muslin on the plan of Lady Bridges’ are a good deal
worn, and some of them are very pretty ; but I shall
defer one of that sort till your arrival. Bath is getting
so very empty that I am not afraid of doing too little.
Black gauze cloaks are worn as much as anything.
I shall write again in a day or two. Best love.
Yours ever, J. A.
We have had Mrs. Lillingstone and the Chamber-
laynes to call on us. My mother was very much struck
with the odd looks of the two latter ; I have only seen
( 125 )
35] From Bath to Ibthrop
her . Mrs. Busby drinks tea and plays at cribbage here
to-morrow ; and on Friday, I believe, we go to the
Chamberlaynes’. Last night we walked by the Canal.
30. To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday 12 May <1801)
Address : Miss Austen | M rs Lloyd’s | Hurst bourn Tarrant | Andover
Postmark : bath
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabotirne i. 284 ; Life 166 (extracts). A few words unpublished.
Paragon Tuesday May 12 th .
My dear Cassandra
My mother has heard from Mary & I have heard
from Frank ; we therefore know something now of
* o
our concerns in distant quarters, & you I hope by
some means or other are equally instructed, for I do
not feel inclined to transcribe the letter of either. — You
know from Elizabeth I dare say that my father &
Frank, deferring their visit to Kippington on account
of Mr. M. Austen’s absence are to be at Godmersham
today ; & James I dare say has been over to Ibthrop
by this time to enquire particularly after Mrs. Lloyd’s
health, & forestall whatever intelligence of the sale
I might attempt to give. — Sixty-one guineas & a half
for the three cows gives one some support under the
blow of only Eleven Guineas for the Tables. Eight for
my Pianoforte, is about what I really expected to get ;
I am more anxious to know the amount of my books,
especially as they are said to have sold well. —
My Adventures since I wrote last, have not been
very numerous ; but such as they are, they are much
at your service. — We met not a creature at Mrs.
Lillingstone’s, & yet were not so very stupid as I ex-
( l 2 ® )
Tuesday 12 May 1801 [36
pcctcd) which X attribute to my wearing my new
bonnet & being in good looks— On Sunday we went
to Church twice, & after evening service walked a little
in the Crescent fields, but found it too cold to stay
long. Yesterday morning we looked into a house in
Seymour St: which there is reason to suppose will soon
be empty, and as we are assured from many quarters
that no inconvenience from the river is felt in those
Buildings, we are at liberty to fix in them if we can ; —
but this house was not inviting ; — the largest room
downstairs, was not much more than fourteen feet
square, with a western aspect. — In the evening I hope
you honoured my Toilette & Ball with a thought ;
I dressed myself as well as I could, & had all my finery
much admired at home. By nine o’clock my Uncle,
Aunt & I entered the rooms & linked Miss Winstone
on to us. — Before tea, it was rather a dull affair ; but
then the before tea did not last long, for there was
only one dance, danced by four couple.— Think of
four couple, surrounded by about an hundred people,
dancing in the upper Rooms at Bath !— After tea we
cheered up ; the breaking up of private parties sent
some scores more to the Ball, & tho’ it was shockingly
& inhumanly thin for this place, there were people
enough I suppose to have made five or six very pretty
Basingstoke assemblies. — I then got Mr. Evelyn to
talk to, & Miss Twisleton to look at ; and I am proud
to say that I have a very good eye at an Adultress, for
tho’ repeatedly assured that another in the same
party was the She, I fixed upon the right one from the
first. A resemblance to Mrs. Leigh was my guide.
She is not so pretty as I expected ; her face has the
same defect of baldness as her sister’s, & her features
( 127 )
From Bath to Ibthrop
not so
A* V V U V V AAA V ^ V ' ' » " ! ^ J t
rather quietly & contentedly sill^tEan anything else.
Mrs. Badcock & two young Women were of the
same party, except when Mrs. Badcock thought her-
self obliged to leave them to run round the room after
her drunken Husband. — His avoidance, & her pursuit,
with the probable intoxication of both, was an amusing
scene. — The Evelyns returned our visit on Saturday ; —
we were very happy to meet, & all that ; — they are
going tomorrow into Gloucestershire, to the Dolphins
for ten days. — Our acquaintance Mr. Woodward is
just married to a Miss Rowe, a young lady rich in
money & music. — I thank you for your Sunday’s
letter, it is very long & very agreable — . I fancy you
know many more particulars of our sale than we do — ;
we have heard the price of nothing but the Cows,
Bacon, Hay, Hops, Tables, & my father’s Chest of
Drawers & Study Table. — Mary is more minute in her
account of their own Gains than in ours — probably
being better informed in them. — I will attend to Mrs.
Lloyd’s commission — & to her abhorrence of Musk
when I write again. — I have bestowed three calls of
enquiry on the Mapletons, & I fancy very beneficial
ones to Marianne, as I am always told that she is
better. I have not seen any of them. — Her complaint
is a billious fever. — I like my dark gown very much
indeed, colour, make, & everything. — I mean to have
my new white one made up now, in case we should go
to the rooms again next monday, which is to be really
the last time.
Wednesday. Another stupid party last night ; per-
haps if larger they might be less intolerable, but here
there were only just enough to make one card table,
( 128 )
iij.vsi sr>xi< ru. m nodyhy.i ii.w (imihw
Tuesday 12 May 1801 [80
with six people to look on, & talk nonsense to each
other. Ly Fust, Mrs. Busby & a Mrs. Owen sat down
mth my Uncle to Whist within five minutes after the
t ii ee old Toughs came in, & there they sat with only
the exchange of Adm: Stanhope for my Uncle till their
chairs were announced.-I cannot anyhow continue
to find people agreable I respect Mrs. Chamberlayne
lor doing her hair well, but cannot feel a more tender
sentiment. Miss Langley is like any other short girl
with a broad nose & wide mouth, fashionable dress, &
exposed bosom.— Adm: Stanhope is a gentlemanlike
Man, but then his legs are too short, & his tail too
ong. Mrs. Stanhope could not come ; I fancy she
had a private appointment with Mr. Chamberlayne
whom I wished to see more than all the rest.— Mv
uncle has quite got the better of his lameness, or at
least his walking with a stick is the only remains of it.
~ He & 1 a 5 e soon t0 take the long-plann’d walk to the
n f' sso< j m on Friday we are all to accompany Mrs.
Chamberlayne & Miss Langley to Weston. My Mother
iad a letter yesterday from my father ; it seems as if
e W. Kent scheme were entirely given up.— He
talks of spending a fortnight at Godmersham & then
returning to Town.—
Y r0 ever J. A.
Excepting a slight cold, my mother is very well •
s , e . T® been < l uite free from feverish or billious comi
plaints since her arrival here.
( 129 )
K
87]
From Bath to Kintbury
37. To Cassandra Austen. Thursday 21 May <1801)
Address : Miss Austen 1 The Rev d F. C. Fowle’s | Kintbury | Newbury
Postmark : bath
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4®.
Braboume i. 289 ; Life 168 (extracts).
Paragon Thursday May 21 st .
My dear Cassandra
To make long sentences upon unpleasant subjects is
very odiouSj & I shall therefore get rid of the one now
uppermost in my thoughts as soon as possible. Our
views on G. P. Buildings seem all at an end , the
observation of the damps still remaining in the offices
of an house which has been only vacated a week, with
reports of discontented families & putrid fevers, has
given the coup de grace. — We have now nothing in
ve i w —When you arrive, we will at least have the
pleasure of examining some of these putrifying Houses
again ; — they are so very desirable in size & situation,
that there is some satisfaction in spending ten minutes
within them. — I will now answer the enquiries in your
last letter. I cannot learn any other explanation of
the coolness between my Aunt & Miss Bond than that
the latter felt herself slighted by the former’s leaving
Bath last summer without calling to see her before she
we nt. — It seems the oddest kind of quarrel in the
world ; they never visit, but I beleive they speak very
civilly if they meet ; My Uncle & Miss Bond certainly
do. The 4 Boxes of Lozenges at f _i-£ per box,
amount as I was told to \ J 6 and as the sum was
so trifling, I thought it better to pay at once than
contest the matter. I have just heard from Frank ;
(130)
Thursday 21 May 1801 371
my father’s plans are now fixed ; you will see him at
Kintbury on friday, and unless inconvenient to you we
are to see you both here on Monday the 1 st of June.
Frank has an invitation to Milgate, which I beleive he
means to accept.-Our party at Ly Fust’s was made
up of the same set of people that you have already
heard of; the Winstones, Mrs. Chamberlayne, Mrs.
Busby, Mrs. Franklyn & Mrs. Maria Somerville ; yet
I think it was not quite so stupid as the two preceding
parties here.— The friendship between Mrs. Chamber-
layne & me which you predicted has already taken
place, for we shake hands whenever we meet. Our
grand walk to Weston was again fixed for Yesterday
& was accomplished in a very striking manner-
Every one of the party declined it under some pretence
or other except our two selves, & we had therefore a
tete a tete ; but that we should equally have had after
the first two yards, had half the Inhabitants of Bath
set off with us.— It would have amused you to see our
progress ;-we went up by Sion Hill, & returned across
the fields ;— in climbing a hill Mrs. Chamberlayne is
very capital ; I could with difficulty keep pace with
her yet would not flinch for the world.— On plain
ground I was quite her equal-and so we posted away
U , n , er a ® ne ^ ot sun > She without any parasol or any
shade to her hat, stopping for nothing, & crossing the
Church Yard at Weston with as much expedition as
if we were afraid of being buried alive.— After seeing
what she is equal to, I cannot help feeling a regard for
her. As to Agreableness, she is much like other
tw° P f Evening We had a short ^11 from
two of the Miss Arnolds, who came from Chippenham
n Business ; they are very civil, and not too genteel
( 131 )
From Bath to Kintbury
and upon hearing that we wanted a House recom-
mended one at Chippenham. This morning we have
been visitted again by Mrs. & Miss Holder ; they
wanted us to fix an evening for drinking tea with
them, but my Mother’s still remaining cold allows her
to decline everything of the kind. — As 1 had a separate
invitation however, I beleive I shall go some afternoon.
It is the* fashion to think them both very detestable,
but they are so civil, & their gowns look so white and so
nice (which by the bye my Aunt thinks an absurd
pretension in this place) that I cannot utterly abhor
them, especially as Miss Holder owns that she has no
taste for Music.— After they left us, I went with my
Mother to help look at some houses in New King
Street, towards which she felt some kind of inclina-
tion — but their size has now satisfied her ; — they were
smaller than I expected to find them. One in particu-
lar out of the two, was quite monstrously little ; — the
best of the sittingrooms not so large as the little
parlour at Steventon, and the second room in every
floor about capacious enough to admit a very small
single bed. — We are to have' a tiny party here tonight ;
I hate tiny parties — they force one into constant
exertion.— Miss Edwards & her father, Mrs. Busby &
her nephew Mr. Maitland, & Mrs. Lillingstone are to be
the whole; — and I am prevented from setting my
black cap at Mr. Maitland by his having a wife & ten
children. — My Aunt has a very bad cough ; do not
forget to have heard about that when you come, &
I think she is deafer than ever. My Mother’s cold
disordered her for some days, but she seems now very
we ll ; — her resolution as to remaining here, begins to
give way a little ; she will not like being left behind,
Thursday 21 May 1801 [37
& will be glad to compound Matters with her enraged
family.— You will be sorry to hear that Marianne
Mapleton’s disorder has ended fatally; she was
beleived out of danger on Sunday, but a sudden
relapse carried her off the next day.— So affectionate
a family must suffer severely ; & many a girl on early
death has been praised into an Angel I beleive, on
slighter pretensions to Beauty, Sense & Merit than
Marianne. — Mr. Bent seems bent upon being very
detestable, for he values the books at only 70£. The
whole World is in a conspiracy to enrich one part of
our family at the expence of another.— Ten shillings
for Dodsley’s Poems however please me to the quick,
& I do not care how often I sell them for as much!
When Mrs. Bramston has read them through I will sell
them again. I suppose you can hear nothing of your
Magnesia. —
Friday. You have a nice day for your Journey in
whatever way it is to be performed — whether in the
Debary’s Coach or on your own twenty toes.— When
you have made Martha’s bonnet you must make her
a cloak of the same sort of materials ; they are very
much worn here, in different forms— many of them just
like her black silk spencer, with a trimming round the
armholes instead of sleeves some are Ions before
& some long all round like C. Bigg’s.-Our pity E
night supplied me with no new idea for my Letter .
Y rs Ever J. A.
The Pickfords are in Bath & have called here She
is the most elegant looking Woman I have seen since
I left Martha He is as raffish in his appearance as
1 would wish every Disciple of Godwin to be —We
(183)
37] From Bath to Kintbury
drink tea tonight with Mrs. Busby.— I scandalized her
nephew cruelly ; he has but three children instead of
Ten. —
Best Love to everybody.
38. To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday 26 May <1801)
Address : Miss Austen | The Rev rt F. C. Fowle’s | Kintbury | Newbury
Postmark : bath
C. B. Hogan. Formerly in the collection described in Times Literary
Supplement 14 Jan. 1926. 2 leaves 4°. Endorsed ‘ May 26 th 1801 ’.
This letter was sold with the ‘ topaze crosses ’ which it authenti-
cates, and with which it should always be preserved.
Memoir 1 83, Memoir* 65 (extract) ; Life 169 (extracts). A large part
unpublished.
Paragon — Tuesday May 26 th
My dear Cassandra
For your letter from Kintbury & for all the compli-
ments on my writing which it contained, I now return
you my best thanks. — I am very glad that Martha
goes to Chilton ; a very essential temporary comfort
her presence must afford to M rs Craven, and I hope she
will endeavour to make it a lasting one by exerting
those kind offices in favour of the young Man, from
which you were both with-held in the case of the
Harrison family by the mistaken tenderness of one
part of ours. — The Endymion came into Portsmouth
on Sunday, & I have sent Charles a short letter by this
day’s post. — My adventures since I wrote to you three
days ago have been such as the time would easily
contain ; I walked yesterday morning with M r8
Chamberlayne to Lyncombe & Widcombe, and in the
evening I drank tea with the Holders. — M rs Chamber-
layne’s pace was not quite so magnificent on this
( 134 )
Tuesday 26 May 1801 [38
second trial as in the first ; it was nothing more than I
could keep up with, without effort ; and for many,
many yards together on a raised narrow footpath I led
the way.— The walk was very beautiful as my com-
panion agreed, whenever I made the observation—
And so ends our friendship, for the Chamberlaynes
leave Bath in a day or two. — Prepare likewise for the
loss of Lady Fust, as you will lose before you find
her.— My evening visit was by no means disagreable.
M rs Lillingston came to engage M rs Holder’s conversa-
tion, & Miss Holder & I adjourned after tea into the
inner Drawingroom to look over Prints & talk
pathetically. She is very unreserved & very fond of
talking of her deceased brother & sister, whose
memories she cherishes with an enthusiasm which tho’
perhaps a little affected, is not unpleasing. She has
an idea of your being remarkably lively ; therefore get
ready the proper selection of adverbs, & due scraps of
Italian & French. I must now pause to make some
observation on M» Heathcote’s having got a little
Boy ; I wish her well to wear it out— & shall proceed.
—Frank writes me word that he is to be in London
tomorrow ; some money Negociation from which he
hopes to derive advantage, hastens him from Kent, &
will detain him a few days behind my father in Town.
—I have seen the Miss Mapletons this morning;
Marianne was buried yesterday, and I called without
expecting to be let in, to inquire after them all. — On
the servant s invitation however I sent in my name,
& Jane & Christiana who were walking in the Garden
came to me immediately, and I sat with them about
ten minutes. They looked pale & dejected, but were
more composed than I had thought probable. — When
(135)
38] From Bath to Kinthury
I mentioned your coming here on Monday, they said
that they should be very glad to see you. — We drink
tea tonight with M rB Lysons ; — Now this, says My
Master will be mighty dull. — On friday we are to have
another party, & a sett of new people to you. — The
Bradshaws & Greaves’s, all belonging to one another ;
& I hope the Pickfords. — M rs Evelyn called very
civilly on Sunday, to tell us that M* Evelyn had seen
M r Philips the proprietor of No. 12 G. P. B. and that
M r Philips was very willing to raise the kitchen floor ; —
but all this I fear is fruitless — tho’ the water may be
kept out of sight, it cannot be sent away, nor the ill
effects of its nearness be excluded. — I have nothing
more to say on the subject of Houses ; — except that
we were mistaken as to the aspect of the one in
Seymour Street, which instead of being due west is
North-west. — I assure you in spite of what I might
chuse to insinuate in a former letter, that I have seen
very little of M r Evelyn since my coming here ; I met
him this morning for only the 4 th time, & as to my
anecdote about Sidney Gardens, I made the most of
the story because it came in to advantage, but in fact
he only asked me whether I were to be at Sidney
Gardens in the evening or not. — There is now some-
thing like an engagement between us & the Phaeton,
which to confess my frailty I have a great desire to
go out in ; — whether it will come to anything must
remain with him. — I really beleive he is very harmless ;
people do not seem afraid of him here, and he gets
Groundsel for his birds & all that. — My Aunt will
never be easy till she visits them ; — she has been
repeatedly trying to fancy a necessity for it now on
our accounts, but she meets with no encouragement. —
( 136 )
from a Lithograph (c. 18 14 )
Tuesday 26 May 1801 [88
She ought to be particularly scrupulous in such
matters & she says so herself — but nevertheless. . . .
Well — I am come home from M rs Lysons as yellow as
I went ; — you cannot like your yellow gown half so
well as I do, nor a quarter neither. M r Rice & Lucy
are to be married, one on the 9 th & the other on the
10 th of July. Yrs affe'y JA.
Wednesday. — I am just returned from my airing in
the very bewitching Phaeton & four, for which I was
prepared by a note from M r E. soon after breakfast :
We went to the top of Kingsdown & had a very
pleasant drive : One pleasure succeeds another rapidly
— On my return I found your letter & a letter from
Charles on the table. The contents of yours I suppose
I need not repeat to you ; to thank you for it will be
enough. — I give Charles great credit for remembering
my Uncle’s direction, & he seems rather surprised at
it himself.— He has received 30£ for his share of the
privateer & expects 10£ more— but of what avail is it
to take prizes if he lays out the produce in presents
to his sisters. He has been buying gold chains &
Topaze crosses for us ; — he must be well scolded.
The Endymion has already received orders for taking
Troops to Egypt— which I should not like at all if
I did not trust to Charles’ being removed from her
somehow or other before she sails. He knows nothing
of his own destination he says, — but desires me to
write directly as the Endymion will probably sail in
3 or 4 days. — He will receive my yesterday’s letter
today, and I shall write again by this post to thank &
reproach him. — We shall be unbearably fine. — I have
made an engagement for you for Thursday the 4 th of
(137)
88] Tuesday 26 May 1801
June ; if my mother & aunt should not go to the fire-
works, w h I dare say they will not, I have promised
to join M r Evelyn & Miss Wood. Miss Wood has lived
with them you know ever ‘ since my son died
I will engage M rfl Mussell as you desire. She made
my dark gown very well & may therefore be trusted
I hope with yours — but she does not always succeed
with lighter colours.— My white one I was obliged to
alter a good deal. Unless anything particular occurs
I shall not write again.
39. To Cassandra Austen. Friday 14 Sept. <1804)
Address : Miss Austen | M rs Lloyd’s | Up. Hurstbourne | Andover
Postmark : none.
Sotheby 3 May 1948; formerly in the collection described in Times
Literary Supplement 14 Jan. 192G.
Memoir 1 89, Memoir 2 68 (extracts) ; Life 177 (extracts). Part un-
published.
Lyme Friday Sept 14.
My dear Cassandra
I take the first sheet of this fine striped paper to
thank you for your letter from Weymouth, and express
my hopes of your being at Ibthrop before this time.
I expect to hear that you reached it yesterday evening,
being able to get as far as Blandford on Wednesday.
Your account of Weymouth contains nothing which
strikes me so forcibly as there being no ice in the town.
For every other vexation I was in some measure pre-
pared, and particularly for your disappointment in
not seeing the Royal Family go on board on Tuesday,
having already heard from Mr. Crawford that he had
seen you in the very act of being too late, but for
there being no ice what could prepare me ? Wey-
(138)
Friday 14 September 1804 [39
mouth is altogether a shocking place, I perceive,
without recommendation of any kind, & worthy only
of being frequented by the inhabitants of Gloucester.
I am really very glad that we did not go there, & that
Henry & Eliza saw nothing in it to make them feel
differently. You found my letter at Andover, I hope,
yesterday, and have now for many hours been satisfied
that your kind anxiety on my behalf was as much
thrown away as kind anxiety usually is. I continue
quite well ; in proof of which I have bathed again this
morning. It was absolutely necessary that I should
have the little fever and indisposition which I had :
it has been all the fashion this week in Lyme. Miss
Anna Cove was confined for a day or two & her
Mother thinks she was saved only by a timely Emetic
(prescribed by D r Robinson) from a serious illness &
Miss Bonham has been under M r Carpenter’s care for
several days with a sort of nervous fever, & tho’ she
is now well enough to walk abroad she is still very
tall & does not come to the Rooms. We all of us
attended them both on Wednesday evening & last
evening I suppose I must say or Martha will think
M r Peter Debary slighted. My mother had her pool
of commerce each night & divided the first with Le
Chevalier, who was lucky enough to divide the other
with somebody else. I hope he will always win enough
to empower him to treat himself with so great an
indulgence as cards must be to him. He enquired
particularly after you, not being aware of your de-
parture. We are quite settled in our Lodgings by this
time as you may suppose, & everything goes on in the
usual order. The servants behave very well, & make
no difficulties, tho’ nothing certainly can exceed the
(139)
89] From Lyme to Ibtkrop
inconvenience of the offices, except the general dirti-
ness of the house & furniture & all its inhabitants.
Hitherto the weather has been just what we could
wish — the continuance of the dry season is very
necessary to our comfort. I endeavour as far as I
can to supply your place & be useful, & keep things
in order. I detect dirt in the water-decanter as fast
as I can & give the Cook physic which she throws off
her stomach. I forget whether she used to do this,
under your administration. James is the delight of
our lives, he is quite an uncle Toby’s annuity to us.
My mother’s shoes were never so well blacked before,
& our plate never looked so clean. He waits extremely
well, is attentive, handy, quick and quiet, & in short
has a great many more than all the cardinal virtues
(for the cardinal virtues in themselves have been so
often possessed that they are no longer worth having)
Sc amongst the rest, that of wishing to go to Bath,
as I understand from Jenny. He has the laudable
thirst I fancy for travelling, which in poor James
Selby was so much reprobated ; & part of his dis-
appointment in not going with his master, arose from
his wish of seeing London. My mother is at this
moment reading a letter from my aunt. Yours to
Miss Irvine of which she had had the perusal (which
by the bye in your place I should not like) has thrown
them into a quandary about Charles & his prospects.
The case is that my mother had previously told my
aunt, without restriction, that a sloop (which my
aunt calls a Frigate) was reserved in the East for
Charles ; whereas you had replied to Miss Irvine’s
enquiries on the subject with less explicitness Sc more
caution. Never mind, let them puzzle on together.
( 140 )
Friday 14 September 1804 [89
As Charles will equally go to the E. Indies, my uncle
cannot be really uneasy, & my aunt may do what she
likes with her frigates. She talks a great deal of the
violent heat of the weather — we know nothing of it
here. My uncle has been suffering a good deal lately ;
they mean however to go to Scarlets about this time
unless prevented by bad accounts of Cook. The
Coles have got their infamous plate upon our door.
I dare say that makes a great part of the massy plate
so much talked of. The Irvines’ house is nearly
completed. I believe they are to get into it on
Tuesday : my aunt owns it to have a comfortable
appearance, & only ‘ hopes the kitchen may not be
damp ’. I have not heard from Charles yet, which
rather surprises me — some ingenious addition of his
own to the proper direction perhaps prevents my
receiving his letter. I have written to Buller & I
have written to M r Pyne, on the subject of the broken
lid ; it was valued by Arming here we were told at
five shillings, & as that appeared to us beyond the
value of all the furniture in the room together, we
have referred ourselves to the owner. The Ball last
night was pleasant, but not full for Thursday. My
father staid very contentedly till half-past nine (we
went a little after eight), and then walked home with
James and a lan thorn, though I believe the lanthorn
was not lit, as the moon was up ; but this lanthorn
may sometimes be a great convenience to him. My
mother and I staid about an hour later. Nobody
asked me the two first dances ; the two next I danced
with Mr. Crawford, and had I chosen to stay longer
might have danced with Mr. Granville, Mrs. Gran-
ville’s son, whom my dear friend Miss Armstrong
( 141 )
39] From Lyme to Ibthrop
offered to introduce to me, or with a new odd-looking
man who had been eyeing me for some time, and at
last, without any introduction, asked me if I meant
to dance again. I think he must be Irish by his ease,
and because I imagine him to belong to the hon bl
Barnwalls, who are the son, and son’s wife of an
Irish viscount, bold queer-looking people, just fit to
be quality at Lyme. Mrs. Fraser (?) & the Schuylers
went away — I do not know where — last Tuesday for
some days & when they return the Schuylers I under-
stand are to remain here a very little while longer.
I called yesterday morning (ought it not in strict
propriety to be termed yester-morning ?) on Miss
Armstrong and was introduced to her father and
mother. Like other young ladies she is considerably
genteeler than her parents. Mrs. Armstrong sat
darning a pair of stockings the whole of my visit.
But I do not mention this at home, lest a warning
should act as an example. We afterwards walked
together for an hour on the Cobb ; she is very con-
verseable in a common way ; I do not perceive wit or
genius, but she has sense and some degree of taste,
and her manners are very engaging. She seems to
like people rather too easily. She thought the Downes
pleasant etc etc. I have seen nothing of M r & M rB
Manhood. My aunt mentions Mrs. Holder’s being
returned from Cheltenham so her summer ends before
theirs begins. Hooper was heard of well at the
Madeiras. Eliza would envy him. I hope Martha
thinks you looking better than when she saw you in
Bath. Jenny has fastened up my hair to-day in the
same manner that she used to do up Miss Lloyd’s —
which makes us both very happy. I need not say that
( 142 )
Friday 14 September 1804 [39
we are particularly anxious for your next letter to know
how you find M r8 Lloyd & Martha. Say everything
kind for us to the latter. The former I fear must be
beyond any remembrance of or from the absent.
Y rfl affect 'y
J. A.
Friday Even 8 . The bathing was so delightful this
morning & Molly so pressing with me to enjoy myself
that I believe I staid in rather too long, as since the
middle of the day I have felt unreasonably tired.
I shall be more careful another time, & shall not
bathe to-morrow as I had before intended. Jenny &
James are walked to Charmouth this afternoon. I am
glad to have such an amusement for him, as I am
very anxious for his being at once quiet & happy.
He can read, & I must get him some books. Unfor-
tunately he has read the 1 st vol. of Robinson Crusoe.
We have the Pinckards newspaper however which
I shall take care to lend him.
40. To Francis Austen. Monday 21 Jan. 1805
Address : Capt. Austen | HMS Leopard | Dungeness | New Romney
(Downs and Portsmouth added later)
Postmarks : bath deal n<ew ro>mney and ja 25 1805
Captain Ernest Austen R.N. 2 leaves 4°.
J. H. and E. C. Hubback, Jane Austen's Sailor Brothers, 1900, 125 ;
Life 181 (extracts).
Green Park B g8 Monday Jan 1 * 21 st
My dearest Frank
I have melancholy news to relate, & sincerely feel
for your feelings under the shock of it.— I wish I could
better prepare you for it. But having said so much,
( 143 )
40] From Bath to Francis Austen
your mind will already forestall the sort of event
which I have to communicate. — Our dear Father has
closed his virtuous & happy life, in a death almost as
free from suffering as his Children could have wished.
— He was taken ill on Saturday morning, exactly in
the same way as heretofore, an oppression in the head,
with fever, violent tremulousness, & the greatest
degree of Feebleness. The same remedy of Cupping,
which had before been so successful, was immediately
applied to — but without such happy effects. The
attack was more violent, & at first he seemed scarcely
at all releived by the operation. — Towards the Evening
however he got better, had a tolerable night, &
yesterday morning was so greatly amended as to get
up & join us at breakfast as usual, & walk about with
only the help of a stick, & every symptom was then
so favourable that when Bowen saw him at one, he
felt sure of his doing perfectly well. — But as the day
advanced, all these comfortable appearances gradually
changed ; the fever grew stronger than ever, & when
Bowen saw him at ten at night, he pronounc’d his
situation to be most alarming. — At nine this morning
he came again — & by his desire a Physician was
called in ; — Dr. Gibbs — But it was then absolutely a
lost case — . Dr. Gibbs said that nothing but a Miracle
could save him, and about twenty minutes after Ten
he drew his last gasp. — Heavy as is the blow, we can
already feel that a thousand comforts remain to us to
soften it. Next to that of the consciousness of his
worth & constant preparation for another World, is
the remembrance of his having suffered, compara-
tively speaking, nothing. Being quite insensible of
his own state, he was spared all the pain of separation,
( 144 )
sydnky c;audj:ns, hath
Monday 21 January 1805 [40
& he went off almost in his Sleep. — My Mother bears
the Shock as well as possible ; she was quite prepared
for it, & feels all the blessing of his being spared a
long Illness. My Uncle & Aunt have been with us,
& shew us every imaginable kindness. And to-
morrow we shall I dare say have the comfort of
James s presence, as an express has been sent to
WI “ite also of course to Godmersham &
Brompton. Adieu my dearest Frank. The loss of
such a Parent must be felt, or we should be Brutes—.
I wish I could have given you better preparation — but
it has been impossible— Yours Ever affect
JA.
41. To Francis Austen. Tuesday 22 Jan. <1805)
Address : Capt. Austen | HMS Leopard | Portsmouth
Postmark : none.
Capt. Ernest Austen R.N. 2 leaves 4*. Endorsed ‘ January 23^
1805 .
Hubback, Sailor Brothers , 127 ; Life 180 (with omissions).
Green Park B gs Tuesday Even 8 , Jan r * 22 d
My dearest Frank
I wrote to you yesterday; but your letter to
Cassandra this morning, by which we learn the pro-
bability of your being by this time at Portsmouth,
obliges me to write to you again, having unfortunately
a communication as necessary as painful to make to
you.— Your affectionate heart will be greatly wounded,
& I wish the shock could have been lessen’d by a
better preparation ; but the Event has been sudden,
& so must be the information of it. We have lost an
Excellent Father.— An illness of only eight & forty
hours carried him off yesterday morning between ten
( 145 ) t.
41] From Bath to Francis Austen
& eleven. He was seized on Saturday with a return
of the feverish complaint, which he had been subject
to for the three last years ; evidently a more violent
attack from the first, as the applications which had
before produced almost immediate releif, seemed
for some time to afford him scarcely any. — On Sunday
however he was much better, so much so as to make
Bowen quite easy, & give us every hope of his being
well again in a few days. — But these hopes gradually
gave way as the day advanced, & when Bowen saw
him at ten that night he was greatly alarmed. — A
Physician was called in yesterday morning, but he
was at that time past all possibility of cure — & Dr.
Gibbs and Mr. Bowen had scarcely left his room
before he sunk into a Sleep from which he never
woke. — Everything I trust & beleive was done for
him that was possible ! — It has been very sudden ! —
within twenty four hours of his death he was walking
with only the help of a stick, was even reading ! — We
had however some hours of preparation, & when we
understood his recovery to be hopeless, most fervently
did we pray for the speedy release which ensued. To
have seen him languishing long, struggling for Hours,
would have been dreadful ! & thank God ! we were
all spared from it. Except the restlessness & con-
fusion of high Fever, he did not suffer — & he was
mercifully spared from knowing that he was about to
quit the Objects so beloved, so fondly cherished as
his wife & Children ever were. — His tenderness as
a Father, who can do justice to ? — My Mother is
tolerably well ; she bears up with great fortitude,
but I fear her health must suffer under such a shock. —
An express was sent for James, & he arrived here this
( 146 )
Tuesday 22 January 1805 [41
morning before eight o’clock. — The funeral is to be on
Saturday, at Walcot Church— The Serenity of the
Corpse is most delightful ! — It preserves the sweet,
benevolent smile which always distinguished him.—
They kindly press my Mother to remove to Steventon
as soon as it is all over, but I do not beleive she will
leave Bath at present. We must have this house for
three months longer, & here we shall probably stay
till the end of that time. —
We all unite in Love, & I am affect Yours
JA.
42. To Francis Austen. Tuesday 29 Jan. <1805)
Address : Capt. Austen | HMS Leopard | Portsmouth
Postmark : bath
Capt. Ernest Austen R.N, 2 leaves 4°. Endorsed ‘ January 29‘»
1805 \ J
Hubback, Sailor Brothers, 129.
Green Park B gs Tuesday Jan 1 * 29.
My dearest Frank
My Mother has found among our dear Father’s
little personal property, a small astronomical Instru-
ment which she hopes you will accept for his sake
It is, I beleive a Compass & Sun-Dial, & is in a Black
chagreen Case. Would you have it sent to you now,
& with what direction ?— There is also a pair of
Scissars for you.— We hope these are articles that
may be useful to you, but we are sure they will be
valuable. I have not time for more.
Yours very affect
J A.
43]
From Bath to Ibthrop
43. To Cassandra Austen . Monday 8 April <1805>
Address : Miss Austen | Up. Hurstbourn | Andover | April 11 th (i.e.
Thursday, when the letter was finished).
Postmark : bath
L. A. Austen-Leigh. 2 leaves 4°.
Memoir * 70 ; Life 183. A large part unpublished.
25 Gay S‘ Monday
My dear Cassandra
Here is a day for you ! Did Bath or Ibthrop ever
see a finer 8 th of April ?— It is March & April together,
the glare of one & the warmth of the other. We do
nothing but walk about ; as far as your means will
admit I hope you profit by such weather too. I dare
say you are already the better for change of place.
We were out again last night 5 Miss Irvine invited us,
when I met her in the Crescent, to drink tea with
them, but I rather declined it, having no idea that
my Mother would be disposed for another Evening
visit there so soon ; but when I gave her the message
I found her very well inclined to go ; and accordingly
on leaving Chapel we walked to Lansdown. Richard
Chamberlayne & a young Ripley from M r Morgan s
school, were there ; & our visit did very well— This
morning we have been to see Miss Chamberlayne look
hot on horseback.— Seven years & four months ago
we went to the same Ridinghouse to see Miss Lefroy’s
performance !— What a different set are we now mov-
ing in ! But seven years I suppose are enough to
change every pore of one’s skin, & every feeling of
one’s mind.— We did not walk long in the Crescent
yesterday, it was hot & not crouded enough ; so we
went into the field, & passed close by Stephen Terry
( 148 )
Monday 8 April 1805 [48
and Miss Seymour again —I have not yet seen her
face, but neither her dress nor air have anything of
the Dash or Stilishness which the Browns talked of ;
quite the contrary indeed, her dress is not even smart,
& her appearance very quiet. Miss Irvine says she is
never speaking a word. Poor Wretch, I am afraid
she is en Penitence. — Here has been that excellent
Mi’s. Coulthard calling, while my Mother was out & I
was beleived to be so ; I always respected her as a
good-hearted, friendly woman; — And the Brownes
have been here ; I find their affidavits on the Table.
— The Ambuscade reached Gibraltar on the 9th of
March and found all well ; so say the papers.— We
have had no letters from anybody, but I expect to
hear from Edward tomorrow, & from you soon after-
wards —How happy they are at Godmersham now !—
I shall be very glad of a letter from Ibthrop, that
I may know how you all are there, & particularly
yourself. This is nice weather for M re J. Austen’s
going to Speen, & I hope she will have a pleasant visit
there. I expect a prodigious account of the Christen-
ing dinner ; perhaps it brought you at last into the
company of Miss Dundas again. —
Tuesday. I received your letter last night, & wish
it may be soon followed by another to say that all is
over; but I cannot help thinking that Nature will
struggle again & produce a revival. Poor woman !
May her end be peaceful & easy, as the Exit we have
witnessed ! And I dare say it will. If there is no
revival, suffering must be all over; even the con-
sciousness of Existence I suppose was gone when you
wrote. The Nonsense I have been writing in this and
in my last letter, seems out of place at such a time ;
(149)
43] From Bath to Ibthrop
but I will not mind it, it will do you no harm, & nobody
else will be attacked by it. — I am heartily glad that
you can speak so comfortably of your own health &
looks, tho’ I can scarcely comprehend the latter being
really approved. Could travelling fifty miles produce
such an immediate change ? — You were looking so
very poorly here ; everybody seem’d sensible of it. —
Is there a charm in an hack postchaise ? — But if there
were, Mrs. Craven’s carriage might have undone it
all. — I am much obliged to you for the time & trouble
you have bestowed on Mary’s cap, & am glad it
pleases her ; but it will prove a useless gift at present
I suppose. — Will not she leave Ibthrop on her Mother’s
death ? — As a companion You will be all that Martha
can be supposed to want ; & in that light, under those
circumstances your visit will indeed have been well-
timed, & your presence & support have the utmost
value. — Miss Irvine spent yesterday Evening with us,
& we had a very pleasant walk to Twerton. On our
return we heard with much surprise that M r Buller
had called while we were out. He left his address,
& I am just returned from seeing him & his wife in
their Lodgings, 7 Bath S‘. His Errand as you may
suppose, is health. It had been often recommended
to him to try Bath, but his coming now seems to have
been chiefly in consequence of his sister Susan’s wish
that he would put himself under the care of M r
Bowen. — Having so very lately heard from Colyton
& that account so tolerable, I was very much aston-
ished — but Buller has been worse again since he wrote
to me. — His Habit has always been billious, but I am
afraid it must be too late for these waters to do him
any good ; for tho* he is altogether in a more com-
( 150 )
Monday 8 April 1805 [43
t
fortable state as to Spirits & appetite than when I saw
him last, & seems equal to a good deal of quiet walking,
his appearance has exactly that of a confirmed
Decline. — The Children are not come, so that poor
M rB Buller is away from all that can constitute enjoy-
ment with her. — I shall be glad to be of any use to
her, but she has that sort of quiet composedness of
mind which always seems sufficient to itself. — What
honour I come to ! — I was interrupted by the arrival
of a Lady to enquire the character of Anne, who is
returned from Wales & ready for service. — And I hope
I have acquitted myself pretty well ; but having a
very reasonable Lady to deal with, one who only
required a tolerable temper, my office was not difficult.
— Were I going to send a girl to school I would send
her to this person ; to be rational in anything is great
praise, especially in the ignorant class of school
mistresses — & she keeps the School in the upper
Crescent.— Since I wrote so far, I have walked with
my Mother to S l James’ Square & Paragon ; neither
family at home. I have also been with the Cookes
trying to fix Mary for a walk this afternoon, but as
she was on the point of taking a long walk with some
other Lady, there is little chance of her joining us.
I should like to know how far they are going ; she
invited me to go with them <&> when I excused myself
as rather tired & mentioned my coming from S‘
J<ames’> Square, she said ‘that is a long walk indeed’.
They want us to drink te<a> with them tonight, but
I do not know whether my mother will have nerves
for it. — We are engaged tomorrow Evening. What
request we are in ! — M rs Chamberlayne expressed to
her neice her wish of being intimate enough with us
( 151 )
43] From Bath to Ibtkrop
to ask us to drink tea with her in a quiet way — we have
therefore offered her ourselves & our quietness thro’ the
same medium. — Our Tea and sugar will last a great
while. — I think we are just the kind of people & party
to be treated about among our relations ; — we cannot
be supposed to be very rich. — The M r Duncans called
yesterday with their Sisters, but were not admitted,
which rather hurt me. In the Evening we met M r
J ohn, & I am sorry to say that he has got a very bad
cold — they have all had bad colds — & he has but just
caught his. — Jenny is very glad to hear of your being
better, & so is Robert, with whom I left a message
to that effect — as my Uncle has been very much in
earnest about your recovery. — I assure you, you were
looking very ill indeed, & I do not beleive much of
your being looking well already. People think you in a
very bad way I suppose, & pay you Compliments to
keep up your Spirits.
Thursday. I was not able to go on yesterday, all
my Wit & leisure were bestowed on letters to Charles
& Henry. To the former I wrote in consequence of
my Mother’s having seen in the papers that the
Urania was waiting at Portsmouth for the convoy for
Halifax ; — this is nice, as it is only three weeks ago
that you wrote by the Camilla. — The Wallop race
seem very fond of Nova Scotia. I wrote to Henry
because I had a letter from him, in which he desired
to hear from me very soon. His to me was most
affectionate & kind, as well as entertaining ; — there is
no merit to him in that, he cannot help being amusing.
— He expresses himself as greatly pleased with the
Screen, & says that he does not know whether he is
* most delighted with the idea or the Execution —
(152)
Monday 8 April 1805 [43
Eliza of course goes halves in all this, and there is also
just such a message of warm acknowledgement from
her respecting the Broche as you would expect. — He
mentions having sent one of Miss Gibson’s Letters to
Frank, by favour of Gen: Tilson, now waiting at
Spithead, Would it be possible for us to do something
like it, through M r Turner’s means ? I did not know
before, that the Expedition were going to Frank.—
One thing more Henry mentions which deserves your
hearing ; he offers to meet us on the Sea-coast if the
plan, of which Edward gave him some hint, takes
place. Will not this be making the Execution of such
a plan, more desirable & delightful than Ever.— He
talks of the rambles we took together last Summer
with pleasing affection.— M" Buller goes with us to
our Chapel tomorrow ;— which I shall put down as
‘ Attention y e First ’. I hope she will keep an account
too.— My Mother’s cold is not so bad today as I ex-
pected. <It is che>ifly in her head, & she has not
fever enough to affec<t> her appetite.— C. Fowle has
this moment left us. He has taken N° 20, from
Michaelmas. — Y rfl Ever, J A.
Mary Cooke did walk with us on tuesday, & we
drank tea in Alfred S l . But we could not keep our
Engagement with M» Chamberlayne last night, my
Mother having unluckily caught a cold which seems
likely to be rather heavy.— Buller has begun the
Waters, so that it will soon appear whether they can
do anything for him. —
( 153 )
44]
From Bath to Ibtkrop
44. To Cassandra Austen. Sunday 21 April <1805)
Address : Miss Austen | Ibthrop | Up. Hurstboum | Andover
Postmark : none.
Jerome Kern (1927). Formerly in the collection described in Times
Literary Supplement 14 Jan. 1926. 2 leaves 4®. Endorsed ‘ From
Bath— April 1805 ’.
Memoir 1 93, Memoir 2 74 (extracts) ; Life 185 (extracts). A large
part unpublished.
Gay S‘ Sunday Evening, April 21 st
My dear Cassandra
I am much obliged to you for writing to me again
so soon ; your letter yesterday was quite an unex-
pected pleasure. Poor M r8 Stent ! it has been her lot
to be always in the way ; but we must be merciful,
for perhaps in time we may come to be M rs Stents
ourselves, unequal to anything & unwelcome to
everybody. — We shall be very glad to see you when-
ever you can get away, but I have no expectation of
your coming before the 10 th or 11 th of May. — Your
account of Martha is very comfortable indeed, & now
we shall be in no fear of receiving a worse. This day,
if she has gone to Church, must have been a trial of
her feelings, but I hope it will be the last of any
acuteness. — James may not be a Man of Business, but
as a 4 Man of Letters ’ he is certainly very useful ; he
affords you a most convenient communication with
the Newbury Post. — You were very right in supposing
I wore my crape sleeves to the Concert, I had them
put in on the occasion ; on my head I wore my crape
& flowers, but I do not think it looked particularly
well. — My Aunt is in a great hurry to pay me for my
Cap, but cannot find in her heart to give me good
( 154)
i
Sunday 21 April 1805 [44
money. * If I have any intention of going to the
Grand Sydney-Garden Breakfast, if there is any party
I wish to join, Perrot will take out a ticket for me.’
Such an offer I shall of course decline ; & all the
service she will render me therefore, is to put it out of
my power to go at all, whatever may occur to make
it desirable.— Yesterday was a busy day with me, or
at least with my feet & my stockings ; I was walking
almost all day long j I went to Sydney Gardens soon
after one, & did not return till four, & after dinner
I walked to Weston. — My morning engagement was
with the Cookes, & our party consisted of George &
Mary, a M r & Miss Bendish who had been with us
at the Concert, & the youngest Miss Whitby not
Julia, we have done with her, she is very ill, but Mary ;
Mary Whitby’s turn is actually come to be grown up
& have a fine complexion & wear great square muslin
shawls. I have not expressly enumerated myself
among the party, but there I was, & my cousin George
was very kind & talked sense to me every now & then
in the intervals of his more animated fooleries with
Miss Bendish, who is very young & rather handsome, &
whose gracious manners, ready wit, & solid remarks put
me somewhat in mind of my old acquaintance Lucy
Lefroy. There was a monstrous deal of stupid quiz-
zing, & common-place nonsense talked, but scarcely
any wit ; all that border’d on it, or on sense came
from my Cousin George, whom altogether I like very
well.— M r Bendish seems nothing more than a tall
young man.— I met M r F. Bonham the other day, &
almost his first salutation was ‘ So Miss Austen your
cousin is come ’.—My Evening Engagement & walk
was with Miss Armstrong, who had called on me the
( 155 )
44] From Bath to Ibthrop
day before, & gently upbraided me in her turn with
change of manners to her since she had been in Bath,
or at least of late. Unlucky me ! that my notice
should be of such consequence & my Manners so bad 1
— She was so well-disposed, & so reasonable that I soon
forgave her, & made this engagement with her in
proof of it. — She is really an agreable girl , so I think
I may like her, & her great want of a companion at
home, which may well make any tolerable acquain-
tance important to her, gives her another claim on my
attention. I shall endeavour as much as possible to
keep my Intimacies in their proper place, & prevent
their clashing. — I have been this morning with Miss
Irvine ; it is not in my power to return her evening-
visits at present. I must pay her as I can.— On
tuesday we are to have a party. It came into my
wise head that tho’ my Mother did not go out of an
evening, there was no reason against her seeing her
friends at home, & that it would be as well to get over
the Chamberlaynes visit now, as to delay it. I ac-
cordingly invited them this morning, M rs C. fixed on
tuesday, & I rather think they will all come ; the
possibility of it will deter us from asking M r & M r3
L. P. to meet them.— I asked Miss Irvine, but she
declined it, as not feeling quite stout, & wishing to
keep quiet ; — but her Mother is to enliven our circle. —
Bickerton has been at home for the Easter Holidays,
& returns tomorrow ; he is a very sweet boy, both in
manner & countenance. He seems to have the atten-
tive, affectionate feelings of Fulwar- William — who by
the bye is actually fourteen — what are we to do ? —
I have never seen Bickerton without his immediately
enquiring whether I had heard from you— from ‘ Miss
( 156 )
Sunday 21 April 1805 [44
Cassandra’, was his expression at first. — As far as
I can learn, the Family are very much pleased with
Bath, & excessively overcome by the heat, or the
cold, or whatever happens to be the weather.— They
go on with their Masters & Mistresses, & are to have
a Miss ; Amelia is to take lessons of Miss Sharpe.—
Among so many friends it will be well if I do not get
into a scrape ; & now here is Miss Blachford come.
I should have gone distracted if the Bullers had staid.
— The Cookes leave Bath next week I believe, & my
Cousin goes earlier. — The papers announce the Mar-
riage of the Rev. Edward Bather, Rector of some
place in Shropshire to a Miss Emma Halifax— a
wretch ! — he does not deserve an Emma Halifax’s
maid Betty.— M r Hampson is here ; this must interest
Martha ; I met him the other morning in his way
(as he said) to Green Park ; I trusted to his
forgetting our number in Gay S l when I gave it him,
& so I conclude he has, as he <has> not yet called.—
M rs Stanhope has let her house from Midsummer, so we
shall get rid of them. She is lucky in disposing of it
so soon, as there is an astonishing number of Houses
at this time vacant in that end of the Town.— M 18
Elliot is to quit hers at Michaelmas. — I wonder
whether M f Hampson’s friend M r Saunders is any
relation to the famous Saunders whose letters have
been lately published !— I am quite of your opinion
as to the folly of concealing any longer our intended
Partnership with Martha, & whenever there has of
late been an enquiry on the subject I have always
been sincere ; & I have sent word of it to the Medi-
terranean in a letter to Frank. — ^ione of our nearest
connections I think will be unprepared for it ; & I do
( 157 )
44] From Bath to Ibthrop
not know how to suppose that Martha’s have not
foreseen it. — When I tell you that we have been
visiting a Countess this morning, you will immediately
with great justice, but no truth, guess it to be Lady
Roden. No, it is Lady Leven, the mother of L d
Balgonie. On receiving a message from Lord & Lady
Leven thro’ the Mackays declaring their intention of
waiting on us, we thought it right to go to them.
I hope we have not done too much, but the friends &
admirers of Charles must be attended to. — They seem
very reasonable, good sort of people, very civil, &
full of his praise. — We were shewn at first into an
empty Drawing-room, & presently in came his Lord-
ship, not knowing who we were, to apologise for the
servant’s mistake, & tell a lie himself, that Lady
Leven was not within. — He is a tall, gentlemanlike
man, with spectacles, & rather deaf after sitting
with him ten minutes we walked away ; but Lady L.
coming out of the Dining parlour as we passed the
door, we were obliged to attend her back to it, & pay
our visit over again. — She is a stout woman, with
a very handsome face. — By this means we had the
pleasure of hearing Charles’s praises twice over ; —
they think themselves excessively obliged to him, &
estimate him so highly as to wish L d Balgonie when
he is quite recovered, to go out to him. — The young
man is much better, & is gone for the confirmation of
his health, to Penzance. — There is a pretty little Lady
Marianne of the party, to be shaken hands with &
asked if she remembers M r Austen. —
Monday. The Cookes’ place seems of a sort to suit
Isaac, if he means to go to service again, & does not
object to change of Country. He will have a good
(158)
Sunday 21 April 1805 [44
soil, & a good Mistress, & I suppose will not mind
taking physic now & then. The only doubt which
occurs to me is whether M r Cooke may not be a dis-
agreable, fidgetty Master, especially in matters con-
cerning the Garden.— M r Mant has not yet paid my
Mother the remainder of her money, but she has very
lately received his apology for it, with his hope of
being able to close the account shortly. — You told me
some time ago that Tom Chute had had a fall from
his horse, but I am waiting to know how it happened
before I begin pitying him, as I cannot help suspecting
it was in consequence of his taking orders; very
likely as he was going to do Duty or returning from
it. —
Tuesday . I have not much more to add. My
Uncle & Aunt drank tea with us last night, & in spite
of my resolution to the contrary, I could not help
putting forward to invite them again this Evening.
I thought it was of the first consequence to avoid
anything that might seem a slight to them. I shall
be glad when it is over, & hope to have no necessity
for having so many dear friends at once again. — I
shall write to Charles by the next Packet, unless you
tell me in the meantime of your intending to do it.
Beleive me if you chuse
Y r affec te Sister.
( 159 )
45] From Godmersham to Goodnestone Farm
45. To Cassandra Austen. Saturday 24 Aug. <1805)
Address : Miss Austen | Goodnestone Farm | Wingham | Bye Bag
Postmark : fevers ham
Harvard College Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabourne i. 298 ; Life 189 (extracts).
Godmersham Park, Saturday Aug st 24
My dear Cassandra
How do you do ? & how is Harriot’s cold ? — I hope
you are at this time sitting down to answer these
questions. — Our visit to Eastwell was very agreable,
I found Ly Gordon’s manners as pleasing as they had
been described, & saw nothing to dislike in Sir
Janison, excepting once or twice a sort of sneer at M rs
Anne Finch. He was just getting into Talk with
Eliz th as the carriage was ordered, but during the
first part of the visit he said very little. — Your going
with Harriot was highly approved of by everyone ;
& only too much applauded as an act of virtue on
your part. I said all I could to lessen your merit. —
The M rs Finches were afraid you would find Goodne-
stone very dull ; I wished when I heard them say so,
that they could have heard M r E. Bridges’s solicitude
on the subject & have known all the amusements that
were planned to prevent it. — They were very civil
to me, as they always are ; — Fortune was also very
civil to me in placing M r E. Hatton by me at dinner. —
I have discovered that Ly Eliz th for a woman of her
age & situation, has astonishingly little to say for
herself, & that Miss Hatton has not much more. — Her
eloquence lies in her fingers ; they were most fluently
harmonious. — George is a fine boy, & well behaved,
but Daniel cheifly delighted me ; the good humour
(160)
Saturday 24 August 1805 [45
of his countenance is quite bewitching. After Tea we
had a cribbage Table, & he & I won two rubbers of his
brother & M" Mary.— M r Brett was the only person
there besides our two families. It was considerably
past eleven before we were at home, & I was so tired
as to feel no envy of those who were at Ly Yates’
Ball.— My good wishes for it’s being a pleasant one,
were I hope successful. Yesterday was a very quiet
day with us ; my noisiest efforts were writing to
Frank, & playing at Battledore & Shuttlecock with
William ; he & I have practiced together two morn-
ings, & improve a little ; we have frequently kept it
up three times, & once or twice six. The two Edwards
went to Canterbury in the chair, & found M" Knight
as you found her I suppose the day before, chearful
but weak.— Fanny was met walking with Miss Sharp
& Miss Milles, the happiest Being in the world ; she sent
a private message to her Mama implying as much
‘ Tell Mama that I am quite Palmerstone ! ’—If little
Lizzy used the same Language, she would I dare say
send the same message from Goodnestone.— In the
evening we took a quiet walk round the Farm, with
George & Henry to animate us by their races & merri-
ment.— Little Edw d is by no means better, & his
papa & mama have determined to consult D r Wilmot.
Unless he recovers his strength beyond what is now
probable, his brothers will return to School without
him, & he will be of the party to Worthing. — If Sea-
Bathing should be recommended he will be left there
with us, but this is not thought likely to happen.—
I have been used very ill this morning, I have received
a letter from Frank which I ought to have had when
Eliz‘ h & Henry had theirs, & which in it’s way from
( 161 ) m
45] From Godmersham to Goodnestone Farm
Albany to Godmersham has been to Dover & Steven-
ton. It was finished on y 6 16 th , & tells what theirs
told before as to his present situation ; he is in a great
hurry to be married, & I have encouraged him in it,
in the letter which ought to have been an answer to
his. — He must think it very strange that I do not
acknowledge the receipt of his, when I speak of those
of the same dates to Eliz: & Henry ; & to add to my
injuries I forgot to number mine on the outside. —
I have found your white mittens, they were folded up
within my clean nightcap, & send their duty to you. —
Eliz: has this moment proposed a scheme, which will
be very much for my pleasure, if equally convenient
to the other party ; it is that when you return on
Monday, I should take your place at Goodnestone for
a few days. — Harriot cannot be insincere, let her try
for it ever so much, & therefore I defy her to accept
this self-invitation of mine, unless it be really what
perfectly suits her. — As there is no time for an answer,
I shall go in the Carriage on Monday, & can return
with you, if my going on to Goodnestone is at all
inconvenient. — The Knatchbulls come on Wednesday
to dinner, & stay only till Friday morng. at the
latest. — Frank’s letter to me is the only one that you
or I have received since Thursday. — M r Hall walked
off this morng. to Ospringe, with no inconsiderable
Booty. He charged Eliz th jj for every time of dress-
ing her hair, & £ for every lesson to Sace, allowing
nothing for the pleasures of his visit here, for meat
drink & Lodging, the benefit of Country air, & the
charms of M rs Salkeld’s & M rfi Sace’s society. —
Towards me he was as considerate, as I had hoped for,
from my relationship to you, charging me only g.o
( 162 )
Saturday 24 August 1805 [45
for cutting my hair, tho’ it was as thoroughly dress’d
after being cut for Eastwell, as it had been for the
Ashford Assembly.— He certainly respects either our
Youth or our poverty.— My writing to you to day
prevents Eliz‘*>’’ writing to Harriot, for which Evil
I implore the latter’s pardon.- — Give my best Love
to her— & kind remembrances to her Brothers.—
Yours very affec ly
JA.
You are desired to bring back with you Henry’s
picture of Rowling for the M rs Finches.
Eliz th hopes you will not be later here on Monday
than 5 o’clock, on Lizzy’s account. —
As I find on looking into my affairs, that instead
of being very rich I am likely to be very poor, I cannot
afford more than ten shillings for Sackree ; but as
we are to meet in Canterbury I need not have men-
tioned this. It is as well however, to prepare you
for the sight of a Sister sunk in poverty, that it may
not overcome your Spirits.
t ha’ve heard nothing from Henry since he went.
Daniel told us that he went from Ospringe in one of
the Coaches.
46. To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday 27 Aug. <1805)
Address (Brabourne) : Miss Austen, Edward Austen’s Esq. I God-
mersham Park, Faversham
Original not traced.
Brabourne i. 803 ; Life 190 (extract).
Goodnestone Farm : Tuesday August 27
My dear Cassandra
We had a very pleasant drive from Canterbury, and
reached this place about half-past four, which seemed
(163)
46] From Goodnestone Farm, to Godmersham
to bid fair for a punctual dinner at five ; but scenes
of great agitation awaited us, and there was much to
be endured and done before we could sit down to
table.
Harriot found a letter from Louisa Hatton, desiring
to know if she and her brothers were to be at the ball
at Deal on Friday, and saying that the Eastwell family
had some idea of going to it, and were to make use of
Rowling if they did ; and while I was dressing she
came to me with another letter in her hand, in great
perplexity. It was from Captain Woodford, contain-
ing a message from Lady Forbes, which he had in-
tended to deliver in person, but had been prevented
from doing.
The offer of a ticket for this grand ball, with an
invitation to come to her house at Dover before and
after it, was Lady Forbes’s message. Harriot was at
first very little inclined, or rather totally disinclined,
to profit by her ladyship’s attention ; but at length,
after many debates, she was persuaded by me and
herself together to accept the ticket. The offer of
dressing and sleeping at Dover she determined on
Marianne’s account to decline, and her plan is to be
conveyed by Lady Elizabeth Hatton.
I hope their going is by this time certain, and will
be soon known to be so. I think Miss H. would not
have written such a letter if she had not been all but
sure of it, and a little more. I am anxious on the
subject, from the fear of being in the way if they do
not come to give Harriot a conveyance. I proposed
and pressed being sent home on Thursday, to prevent
the possibility of being in the wrong place, but Harriot
would not hear of it.
( 164 )
[46
Tuesday 27 August 1805
There is no chance of tickets for the Mr. Bridgeses,
as no gentlemen but of the garrison are invited.
With a civil note to be fabricated to Lady F., and
an answer written to Miss H., you will easily believe
that we could not begin dinner till six. We were
agreeably surprised by Edward Bridges’s company to
it. He had been, strange to tell, too late for the
cricket match, too late at least to play himself, and,
not being asked to dine with the players, came home.
It is impossible to do justice to the hospitality of his
attentions towards me ; he made a point of ordering
toasted cheese for supper entirely on my account.
We had a very agreeable evening, and here I am
before breakfast writing to you, having got up
between six and seven ; Lady Brydges’s room must
be good for early rising.
Mr. Sankey was here last night, and found his
patient better, but I have heard from a maidservant
that she has had but an indifferent night.
Tell Elizabeth that I did not give her letter to
Harriot till we were in the carriage, when she received
it with great delight, and could read it in comfort.
As you have been here so lately, I need not particu-
larly describe the house or style of living, in which all
seems for use and comfort ; nor need I be diffuse on
the state of Lady Brydges’s bookcase and corner-
shelves upstairs. What a treat to my mother to
arrange them !
Harriot is constrained to give up all hope of seeing
Edward here to fetch me, as I soon recollected that
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Knatchbull’s being at Godmer-
sham on Thursday must put it out of the question.
Had I waited till after breakfast, the chief of all
( 165 )
46] From Goodnestone Farm to Godmersham
this might have been spared. The Duke of Gloucester’s
death sets my heart at ease, though it will cause some
dozens to ache. Harriot’s is not among the number
of the last ; she is very well pleased to be spared the
trouble of preparation. She joins me in best love to
you all, and will write to Elizabeth soon. I shall be
very glad to hear from you, that we may know how
you all are, especially the two Edwards.
I have asked Sophie if she has anything to say to
Lizzy in acknowledgment of the little bird, and her
message is that, with her love, she is very glad Lizzy
sent it. She volunteers, moreover, her love to little
Marianne, with the promise of bringing her a doll the
next time she goes to Godmersham.
J ohn is just come from Ramsgate, and brings a good
account of the people there. He and his brother, you
know, dine at Nackington ; we are to dine at four,
that we may walk afterwards. As it is now two, and
Harriot has letters to write, we shall probably not get
out before.
Yours affectionately,
J « A.
Three o’clock . — Harriot is just come from Marianne,
and thinks her upon the whole better. The sickness
has not returned, and a headache is at present her
chief complaint, which Henry attributes to the
sickness.
( 166 )
Friday 30 August 1805
[47
47. To Cassandra Austen. Friday 30 Aug. <1805)
Address (Brabourne) : Miss Austen, Edward Austen's Esq. | God-
mersham Park, Faversham
Original not traced.
Brabourne i. 307 ; Life 191 (extract).
Goodnestone Farm : Friday August 30
My dear Cassandra
I have determined on staying here till Monday.
Not that there is any occasion for it on Marianne’s
account, as she is now almost as well as usual, but
Harriot is so kind in her wishes for my company that
I could not resolve on leaving her to-morrow, especially
as I had no reason to give for its necessity. It would
be inconvenient to me to stay with her longer than
the beginning of next week, on account of my clothes,
and therefore I trust it will suit Edward to fetch or
send for me on Monday, or Tuesday if Monday should
be wet. Harriot has this moment desired me to pro-
pose his coming hither on Monday, and taking me back
the next day.
The purport of Elizabeth’s letter makes me anxious
to hear more of what we are to do and not to do, and
I hope you will be able to write me your own plans and
opinions to-morrow. The journey to London is a
point of the first expediency, and I am glad it is
resolved on, though it seems likely to injure our
Worthing scheme. I expect that we are to be at
Sandling, while they are in town.
It gives us great pleasure to hear of little Edward’s
being better, and we imagine, from his mama’s expres-
sions, that he is expected to be well enough to return
to school with his brothers.
( 167 )
47] From Goodnestone Farm, to Godmersham
Marianne was equal to seeing me two days ago ; we
sat with her for a couple of hours before dinner, and
the same yesterday, when she was evidently better,
more equal to conversation, and more cheerful than
during our first visit. She received me very kindly,
and expressed her regret in not having been able to
see you.
She is, of course, altered since we saw her in October,
1794. Eleven years could not pass away even in
health without making some change, but in her case
it is wonderful that the change should be so little.
I have not seen her to advantage, as I understand she
has frequently a nice colour, and her complexion has
not yet recovered from the effects of her late illness.
Her face is grown longer and thinner, and her features
more marked, and the likeness which I remember to
have always seen between her and Catherine Bigg is
stronger than ever, and so striking is the voice and
manner of speaking that I seem to be really hearing
Catherine, and once or twice have been on the point
of calling Harriot ‘ Alethea.’ She is very pleasant,
cheerful, and interested in everything about her, and
at the same time shows a thoughtful, considerate, and
decided turn of mind.
Edward Bridges dined at home yesterday ; the day
before he was at St. Albans ; to-day he goes to
Broome, and to-morrow to Mr. Hallett’s, which latter
engagement has had some weight in my resolution of
not leaving Harriot till Monday.
We have walked to Rowling on each of the two last
days after dinner, and very great was my pleasure in
going over the house and grounds. We have also
found time to visit all the principal walks of this place,
(168)
Friday 80 August 1805 [47
except the walk round the top of the park, which we
shall accomplish probably to-day.
Next week seems likely to be an unpleasant one to
this family on the matter of game. The evil intentions
of the Guards are certain, and the gentlemen of the
neighbourhood seem unwilling to come forward in any
decided or early support of their rights. Edward
Bridges has been trying to arouse their spirits, but
without success. Mr. Hammond, under the influence
of daughters and an expected ball, declares he will do
nothing.
Harriot hopes my brother will not mortify her by
resisting all her plans and refusing all her invitations ;
she has never yet been successful with him in any, but
she trusts he will now make her all the amends in his
power by coming on Monday. She thanks Elizabeth
for her letter, and you may be sure is not less solicitous
than myself for her going to town.
Pray say everything kind for us to Miss Sharpe,
who could not regret the shortness of our meeting in
Canterbury more than we did. I hope she returned
to Godmersham as much pleased with Mrs. Knight’s
beauty and Miss Milles’s judicious remarks as those
ladies respectively were with hers. You must send me
word that you have heard from Miss Irvine.
I had almost forgot to thank you for your letter.
I am glad you recommended ‘ Gisborne,’ for having
begun, I am pleased with it, and I had quite deter-
mined not to read it.
I suppose everybody will be black for the D. of G.
Must we buy lace, or will ribbon do ?
We shall not be at Worthing so soon as we have
been used to talk of, shall we ? This will be no evil to
( 169 )
47] Friday 30 August 1805
us, and we are sure of my mother and Martha being
happy together. Do not forget to write to Charles.
As I am to return so soon, we shall not send the
pincushions.
Yours affectionately, J. A.
You continue, I suppose, taking hartshorn, and
I hope with good effect.
48. To Cassandra Austen. Wednesday 7 Jan. <1807)
Address (Brabourne) : Miss Austen, Godmersham Park, | Faver-
sham, Kent
Original not traced.
Brabourne i. 312 ; Life 198 (extracts).
Southampton : Wednesday January 7
My dear Cassandra
You were mistaken in supposing I should expect
your letter on Sunday ; I had no idea of hearing from
you before Tuesday, and my pleasure yesterday was
therefore unhurt by any previous disappointment.
I thank you for writing so much ; you must really
have sent me the value of two letters in one. We are
extremely glad to hear that Elizabeth is so much
better, and hope you will be sensible of still further
amendment in her when you return from Canterbury.
Of your visit there I must now speak ‘ incessantly ; ’
it surprises, but pleases me more, and I consider it as
a very just and honourable distinction of you, and not
less to the credit of Mrs. Knight. I have no doubt of
your spending your time with her most pleasantly in
quiet and rational conversation, and am so far from
thinking her expectations of you will be deceived, that
my only fear is of your being so agreeable, so much to
( 170 )
Wednesday 7 January 1807 [48
her taste, as to make her wish to keep you with her for
ever. If that should be the case, we must remove to
Canterbury, which I should not like so well as South-
ampton.
When you receive this, our guests will be all gone or
going ; and I shall be left to the comfortable disposal
of my time, to ease of mind from the torments of rice
puddings and apple dumplings, and probably to regret
that I did not take more pains to please them all.
Mrs. J . Austen has asked me to return with her to
Steventon; I need not give my answer ; and she has in-
vited my mother to spend there the time of Mrs. F. A.’s
confinement, which she seems half inclined to do.
A few days ago I had a letter from Miss Irvine, and
as I was in her debt, you will guess it to be a remon-
strance, not a very severe one, however ; the first page
is in her usual retrospective, jealous, inconsistent
style, but the remainder is chatty and harmless. She
supposes my silence may have proceeded from resent-
ment of her not having written to inquire particularly
after my hooping cough, &c. She is a funny one.
I have answered her letter, and have endeavoured
to give something like the truth with as little in-
civility as I could, by placing my silence to the want
of subject in the very quiet way in which we live.
Phebe has repented, and stays. I have also written
to Charles, and I answered Miss Buller’s letter by
return of post, as I intended to tell you in my last.
Two or three things I recollected when it was too
late, that I might have told you ; one is, that the
Welbys have lost their eldest son by a putrid fever at
Eton, and another that Tom Chute is going to settle in
Norfolk.
( 171 )
48] From Southampton to Godmersham
Y on have scarcely ever mentioned Lizzy since your
being at Godmersham. I hope it is not because she
is altered for the worse.
I cannot yet satisfy Fanny as to Mrs. Foote’s baby’s
name, and I must not encourage her to expect a good
one, as Captain Foote is a professed adversary to all
but the plainest ; he likes only Mary, Elizabeth,
Anne, &c. Our best chance is of ‘ Caroline,’ which in
compliment to a sister seems the only exception.
He dined with us on Friday, and I fear will not soon
venture again, for the strength of our dinner was
a boiled leg of mutton, underdone even for James ;
and Captain Foote has a particular dislike to under-
done mutton ; but he was so good-humoured and
pleasant that I did not much mind his being starved.
He gives us all the most cordial invitation to his house
in the country, saying just what the Williams ought
to say to make us welcome. Of them we have seen
nothing since you left us, and we hear that they are
just gone to Bath again, to be out of the way of
further alterations at Brooldands.
Mrs. F. A. has had a very agreeable letter from
Mrs. Dickson, who was delighted with the purse, and
desires her not to provide herself with a christening
dress, which is exactly what her young correspondent
wanted ; and she means to defer making any of the
caps as long as she can, in hope of having Mrs. D.’s
present in time to be serviceable as a pattern. She
desires me to tell you that the gowns were cut out
before your letter arrived, but that they are long
enough for Caroline. The Beds, as I believe they are
called, have fallen to Frank’s share to continue, and
of course are cut out to admiration.
( 172 )
Wednesday 7 January 1807 [48
‘ Alphonsine ’ did not do. We were disgusted in
twenty pages, as, independent of a bad translation, it
has indelicacies which disgrace a pen hitherto so pure ;
and we changed it for the ‘ Female Quixotte,’ which
now makes our evening amusement ; to me a very
high one, as I find the work quite equal to what I
remembered it. Mrs. F. A., to whom it is new, enjoys
it as one could wish ; the other Mary, I believe, has
little pleasure from that or any other book.
My mother does not seem at all more disappointed
than ourselves at the termination of the family
treaty ; she thinks less of that just now than of the
comfortable state of her own finances, which she finds
on closing her year’s accounts beyond her expectation,
as she begins the new year with a balance of 301. in her
favour ; and when she has written her answer to my
aunt, which you know always hangs a little upon her
mind, she will be above the world entirely. You will
have a great deal of unreserved discourse with Mrs. K.,
I dare say, upon this subject, as well as upon many
other of our family matters. Abuse everybody but me.
Thursday . — We expected James yesterday, but he
did not come ; if he comes at all now, his visit will be.
a very short one, as he must return to-morrow, that
Ajax and the chair may be sent to Winchester on
Saturday. Caroline’s new pelisse depended upon her
mother’s being able or not to come so far in the chair ;
how the guinea that will be saved by the same means
of return is to be spent I know not. Mrs. J. A. does
not talk much of poverty now, though she has no hope
of my brother s being able to buy another horse next
summer.
Their scheme against Warwickshire continues, but
(178)
48] From Southampton to Godmersham
I doubt the family’s being at Stoneleigh so early as
James says he must go, which is May.
My mother is afraid I have not been explicit enough
on the subject of her wealth ; she began 1806 with
68/., she begins 1807 with 99/., and this after 82/. pur-
chase of stock. Frank too has been settling his
accounts and making calculations, and each party
feels quite equal to our present expenses ; but much
increase of house-rent would not do for either. Frank
limits himself, I believe, to four hundred a year.
You will be surprised to hear that Jenny is not yet
come back ; we have heard nothing of her since her
reaching Itchingswell, and can only suppose that she
must be detained by illness in somebody or other, and
that she has been each day expecting to be able to
come on the morrow. I am glad I did not know
beforehand that she was to be absent during the whole
or almost the whole of our friends being with us, for
though the inconvenience has not been nothing, I
should have feared still more. Our dinners have
certainly suffered not a little by having only Molly’s
head and Molly s hands to conduct them j she fries
better than she did, but not like Jenny.
We did not take our walk on Friday, it was too
dirty, nor have we yet done it ; we may perhaps do
something like it to-day, as after seeing Frank skate,
which he hopes to do in the meadows by the beech, we
are to treat ourselves with a passage over the ferry.
It is one of the pleasantest frosts I ever knew, so very
quiet. I hope it will last some time longer for Frank’s
sake, who is quite anxious to get some skating j he
tried yesterday, but it would not do.
Our acquaintance increase too fast. He was recog-
(174)
Wednesday 7 January 1807 [48
nised lately by Admiral Bertie, and a few days since
arrived the Admiral and his daughter Catherine to
wait upon us. There was nothing to like or dislike in
either. To the Berties are to be added the Lances,
with whose cards we have been endowed, and whose
visit Frank and I returned yesterday. They live about
a mile and three-quarters from S. to the right of the new
road to Portsmouth, and I believe their house is one of
those which are to be seen almost anywhere among the
woods on the other side of the Itchen. It is a handsome
building, stands high, and in a very beautiful situation.
We found only Mrs. Lance at home, and whether
she boasts any offspring besides a grand pianoforte did
not appear. She was civil and chatty enough, and
offered to introduce us to some acquaintance in
Southampton, which we gratefully declined.
I suppose they must be acting by the orders of Mr.
Lance of Netherton in this civility, as there seems no
other reason for their coming near us . They will not come
often, I dare say. They live in a handsome style and are
rich, and she seemed to like to be rich, and we gave her to
understand that we were far from being so ; she will soon
feel therefore that we are not worth her acquaintance.
Y ou must have heard from Martha by this time. We
have had no accounts of Kintbury since her letter to me.
Mrs. F . A. has had one fainting fit lately; it came on as
usual after eating a hearty dinner, but did not last long.
I can recollect nothing more to say. When my letter
is gone, I suppose I shall.
Y ours affectionately, J. A.
I have just asked Caroline if I should send her love
to her godmama, to which she answered ‘ Yes.’
( 175 )
49] From Southampton to Godmersham
49. To Cassandra Austen. < Sunday ) 8 Feb. 1807
Address : Miss Austen | Godmersham Park | Faversham | Kent
Postmarks i Southampton and feb 10 1807
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Braboume i. 320 ; Life 199 (extracts). A few lines unpublished.
Southampton Feb. 8 th
My dearest Cassandra
My expectation of having nothing to say to you
after the conclusion of my last, seems nearer Truth
than I thought it would be, for I feel to have but little.
I need not therefore be above acknowledging the
receipt of yours this morn* ; or of replying to every
part of it which is capable of an answer ; & you may
accordingly prepare for my ringing the Changes of the
Glads & Sorrys for the rest of the page. — Unluckily
however I see nothing to be glad of, unless I make it
a matter of Joy that Mrs. Wylmot has another son,
& that L d Lucan has taken a Mistress, both of which
Events are of course joyful to the Actors ; — but to be
sorry I find many occasions, the first is that your
return is to be delayed, & whether I ever get beyond
the first is doubtful. It is no use to lament. — I never
heard that even Queen Mary’s Lamentation did her
any good, & I could not therefore expect benefit from
mine. — We are all sorry, & now that subject is ex-
hausted. I heard from Martha yesterday : she spends
this week with the Harwoods, goes afterwards with
James & Mary for a few days to see Peter Debary &
two of his sisters at Eversley — the Living of which
he has gained on the death of Sir It. Cope — & means
to be here on y e 24 th , which will be Tuesday fortnight.
I shall be truely glad if she can keep to her day, but
( 176 )
Sunday 8 February 1807 [49
dare not depend on it ; — & am so apprehensive of
farther detention that, if nothing else occurs to create
it, I cannot help thinking she will marry Peter
Debary. — It vexed me that I could not get any fish
for Kintbury while their family was large ; but so it
was, & till last Tuesday I could procure none. I then
sent them four pair of small soals, & should be glad
to be certain of their arriving in good time, but I have
heard nothing about them since, & had rather hear
nothing than Evil. — They cost six shillings, & as they
travelled in a Basket which came from Ki ntbury
a few days before with Poultry &c, I insist upon
treating you with the Booking whatever it may be, You
are only Eighteen pence in my debt.— Mrs. E. Leigh
did not make the slightest allusion to my Uncle’s
Business, as I remember telling you at the time, but
you shall have it as often as you like. My Mother
wrote to her a week ago— Martha’s rug is just finished,
& looks well, tho’ not quite so well as I had hoped.
I see no fault in the Border, but the Middle is dingy. —
My Mother desires me to say that she will knit one for
you, as soon as you return to chuse the colours &
pattern. I am sorry I have affronted you on the
subject of Mr. Moore, but I do not mean ever to like
him ; & as to pitying a young woman merely because
she cannot live in two places at the same time, & at
once enjoy the comforts of being married & single,
I shall not attempt it, even for Harriet.— You see
I have a spirit, as well as yourself. Frank & Mary
cannot at all approve of your not being at home in
time to help them in their finishing purchases, & desire
me to say that, if you are not, they shall be as spiteful
as possible & chuse everything in the stile most likely
( 177 ) n
49] From Southampton to Godmersham
to vex you, knives that will not cut, glasses that will
not hold, a sofa without a seat, & a Bookcase without
shelves. — Our Garden is putting in order, by a Man
who bears a remarkably good character, has a very
fine complexion & asks something less than the
first. The shrubs which border the gravel walk he
says are only sweetbriar & roses, & the latter of an
indifferent sort ; — we mean to get a few of a better
kind therefore, & at my own particular desire he pro-
cures us some Syringas. I could not do without a
Syringa, for the sake of Cowper’s Line. — We talk also
of a Laburnam.- — The Border under the Terrace Wall,
is clearing away to receive Currants & Gooseberry
Bushes, & a spot is found very proper for raspberries. —
The alterations & improvements within doors too
advance very properly, & the offices will be made very
convenient indeed. — Our Dressing-Table is construct-
ing on the spot, out of a large Kitchen Table belonging
to the House, for doing which we have the permission
of Mr. Husket Lord Lansdown’s Painter, — domestic
Painter I sh d call him, for he lives in the Castle. —
Domestic Chaplains have given way to this more
necessary office, & I suppose whenever the Walls want
no touching up, he is employed about my Lady’s face.
— The morning was so wet that I was afraid we should
not be able to see our little visitor, but Frank who
alone could go to Church called for her after service,
& she is now talking away at my side & examining the
Treasures of my Writing-desk drawer ; — very happy
I beleive ; — not at all shy of course. — Her name is
Catherine & her Sister’s Caroline. — She is something
like her Brother, & as short for her age, but not so
well-looking. — What is become of all the Shyness in
(178)
Sunday 8 February 1807 [49
the World ?— Moral as well as Natural Diseases dis-
appear in the progress of time, & new ones take their
place— Shyness & the Sweating Sickness have given
way to Confidence & Paralytic complaints.— I am
sorry to hear of Mrs. Whitfield’s encreasing Illness, &
of poor Marianne Bridges’s having suffered so much ;
—these are some of my sorrows,— & that Mrs. Deedes
is to have another Child I suppose I may lament.—
The death of Mrs. W. K. we had seen ; — I had no idea
that anybody liked her, & therefore felt nothing for
any Survivor, but I am now feeling away on her
Husband’s account, and think he had better marry
Miss Sharpe. — I have this instant made my present,
& have the pleasure of seeing it smiled over with
genuine satisfaction. I am sure I may on this occasion
call Kitty Foote, as Hastings did H. Egerton, my
‘ very valuable Friend.’— Even 8 .— Our little visitor
has just left us, & left us highly pleased with her ; —
she is a nice, natural, openhearted, affectionate girl,
with all the ready civility which one sees in the best
Children in the present day so unlike anything that
I was myself at her age, that I am often all astonish-
ment & shame. — Half her time here was spent at
Spillikins, which I consider as a very valuable part
of our Household furniture, & as not the least impor-
tant Benefaction from the family of Knight to that of
Austen.— But I must tell you a story. Mary has for
some time had notice from Mrs. Dickson of the
intended arrival of a certain Miss Fowler in this place ;
— Miss F. is an intimate friend of Mrs. D. & a good
deal known as such to Mary. — On Thursday last she
called here while we were out ;— Mary found on our
return her card with only her name on it, & she had
(179)
49] From Southampton to Godmersham
left word that she w 4 call again. — The particularity of
this made us talk, & among other conjectures Frank
said in joke ‘ I dare say she is staying with the
Pearsons.’ — The connection of the names struck Mary,
& she immediately recollected Miss Fowler’s having
been very intimate with persons so called ; — and upon
putting everything together we have scarcely a doubt
of her being actually staying with the only Family in
the place whom we cannot visit. — What a Contre-
tems ! — in the Language of France ; What an unlucki*
ness ! in that of M de Duval The Black Gentleman
has certainly employed one of his menial imps to
bring about this complete tho’ trifling mischeif.
Miss F. has never called again, but we are in daily
expectation of it. — Miss P. has of course given her
a proper understanding of the Business ; — it is evident
that Miss F. did not expect or wish to have the visit
returned, & Frank is quite as much on his guard for his
wife as we c d desire for her sake or our own. We shall
rejoice in being so near Winchester when Edward
belongs to it, & can never have our spare bed filled
more to our satisfaction than by him. Does he leave
Eltham at Easter ?— We are reading Clarentine, & are
surprised to find how foolish it is. I remember liking
it much less on a 2 d reading than at the 1 st & it does
not bear a 3 d at all. It is full of unnatural conduct
& forced difficulties, without striking merit of any
kind. —
Miss Harrison is going into Devonshire to attend
Mrs. Dusautoy as usual.— Miss Jackson is married to
young Mr. Gunthorpe, & is to be very unhappy. He
swears, drinks, is cross, jealous, selfish & Brutal the
match makes her family miserable, & has occasioned
( 180 )
Sunday 8 February 1807 [49
his being disinherited.— The Browns are added to our
list of acquaintance ; He commands the Sea Fencibles
here under Sir Tho. & was introduced at his own desire
by the latter when we saw him last week.— As yet the
Gentlemen only have visited, as Mrs. B. is ill, but she
is a nice looking woman & wears one of the prettiest
straw Bonnets in the place.— Monday. The Garret-
beds are made, & ours will be finished today. I had
hoped it w* 1 be finished on Saturday, but neither Mrs.
Hall nor Jenny were able to give help enough for that ;
& I have as yet done very little & Mary nothing at all.
This week we shall do more, & I sh d like to have all the
5 Beds completed by the end of it. — There will then
be the Window-Curtains, sofa-cover, & a carpet to be
altered. I should not be surprised if we were to be
visited by James again this week ; he gave us reason
to expect him soon ; & if they go to Eversley he cannot
come next week. —
I am sorry & angry that his Visits should not give
one more pleasure ; the company of so good & so
clever a Man ought to be gratifying in itself ; — but his
Chat seems all forced, his Opinions on many points too
much copied from his Wife’s, & his time here is spent
I think in walking about the House & banging the
doors, or ringing the bell for a glass of water.—
There, I flatter myself I have constructed you a
smartish Letter, considering my want of Materials.
But like my dear Dr. Johnson I beleive I have dealt
more in Notions than Facts. —
I hope your Cough is gone & that you are otherwise
well. — And remain with Love,
Y rs affect 01 * J. A.
( 181 )
50] From Southampton to Godmersham
50. To Cassandra Austen. Friday 20 Feb. 1807
Address : Miss Austen | Godmersham Park | Faversham | Kent
Postmarks : Southampton and feb 23 1807
R. B. Adam. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabourne i. 329 ; Life 201 (extracts).
Southampton Friday Feb y 20 th
My dear Cassandra
We have at last heard something of M r Austen’s
Will. It is beleived at Tunbridge that he has left
everything after the death of his widow to Mr. M y
Austen’s 3 d son John ; & as the said John was the
** *
only one of the Family who attended the Funeral, it
seems likely to be true. — Such ill-gotten wealth can
never prosper ! — I really have very little to say this
week, & do not feel as if I should spread that little into
the shew of much. I am inclined for short sentences. —
Mary will be obliged to you to take notice how often
Eliz th nurses her Baby in the course of the 24 hours,
how often it is fed & with what you need not
trouble yourself to write the result of your observa-
tions, your return will be early enough for the com-
munication of them. — You are recommended to bring
away some flower-seeds from Godmersham, particu-
larly Mignionette seed. — My Mother has heard this
morn 8 from Paragon. My Aunt talks much of the
violent colds prevailing in Bath, from which my Uncle
has suffered ever since their return, & she has herself
a cough much worse than any she ever had before, sub-
ject as she has always been to bad ones. — She writes
in good humour & eh earful spirits however. The
negociation between them & Adlestrop so happily over
indeed, what can have power to vex her materially ?
(182)
Friday 20 February 1807 [50
Elliston, she tells us has just succeeded to a con-
siderable fortune on the death of an Uncle. I would
not have it enough to take him from the Stage ;
she should quit her business, & live with him in
London.— We could not pay our visit on Monday, the
weather altered just too soon ; & we have since had
a touch of almost everything in the weather way ; —
two of the severest frosts since the winter began,
preceded by rain, hail & snow— Now we are smiling
again.
Saturday. — I have received your letter, but I sup-
pose you do not expect me to be gratified by it’s
contents. I confess myself much disappointed by this
repeated delay of your return, for tho’ I had pretty
well given up all idea of your being with us before our
removal, I felt sure that March would not pass quite
away without bringing you. Before April comes, of
course something else will occur to detain you. But
as you are happy, all this is selfishness, of which here
is enough for one page. — Pray tell Lizzy that if I had
imagined her Teeth to be really out, I should have
said before what I say now, that it was a very unlucky
fall indeed, that I am afraid it must have given her
a great deal of pain, & that I dare say her Mouth looks
very comical.— I am obliged to Fanny for the list of
Mrs. Coleman’s Children, whose names I had not
however quite forgot ; the new one I am sure will be
Caroline. — I have got Mr. Bowen’s Recipe for you, it
came in my aunt’s letter. — You must have had more
snow at G m , than we had here ; — on Wednesday
morn® there was a thin covering of it over the fields
& roofs of the Houses, but I do not think there was
any left the next day. Everybody used to South-
(183)
50] From Southampton to Godmersham
ampton says that Snow never lies more than 24 hours
near it, & from what we have observed ourselves, it is
very true. — Frank’s going into Kent depends of course
upon his being unemployed, but as the l Bt Lord after
promising L d Moira that Capt. A. should have the first
good Frigate that was vacant, has since given away
two or three fine ones, he has no particular reason to
expect an appointment now. — He however has scarcely
spoken about the Kentish Journey ; I have my infor-
mation cheifly from her, & she considers her own going
thither as more certain if he sh d be at sea, than if not. —
Frank has got a very bad cough, for an Austen ; — but
it does not disable him from making very nice fringe
for the Drawingroom-Curtains. — Mrs. Day has now
got the Carpet in hand, & Monday I hope will be the
last day of her employment here. A fortnight after-
wards she is to be called again from the shades of her
red-check’d bed in an alley near the end of the High
Street to clean the new House & air the Bedding. —
We hear that we are envied our House by many people,
& that the Garden is the best in the Town. — There
will be green baize enough for Martha’s room &
ours ; — not to cover them, but to lie over the part
where it is most wanted, under the Dressing Table.
Mary is to have a peice of carpetting for the same
purpose ; my Mother says she does not want any ; —
& it may certainly be better done without in her room
than in Martha’s & ours, from the difference of their
aspect. — I recommend M rB Grant’s Letters, as a present
to the latter ; — what they are about, nor how many
volumes they form I do not know, having never heard
of them but from Miss Irvine, who speaks of them
as a new & much admired work, & as one which has
( 184 )
Friday 20 February 1807 [50
pleased her highly.— I have enquired for the book
here, but find it quite unknown. I beleive 1 put
five breadths of Linon also into my flounce j I know
I found it wanted more than I had expected, & that
I sh d have been distressed if I had not bought more
than I beleived myself to need, for the sake of the even
Measure, on which we think so differently.— A light
morn 8 gown will be a very necessary purchase for you,
& I wish you a pretty one. I shall buy such things
whenever I am tempted, but as yet there is nothing
of the sort to be seen. — We are reading Barretti’s other
book, & find him dreadfully abusive of poor M r Sharpe.
I can no longer take his part against you, as I did nine
years ago.— Sunday .— This post has brought me
Martha’s own assurance of her coming on tuesday
even 8 which nothing is now to prevent except William
should send her word that there is no remedy on that
day.— Her letter was put into the post at Basingstoke
on their return from Eversley, where she says they
have spent their time very pleasantly ; she does not
own herself in any danger of being tempted back
again however, & as she signs by her maiden name we
are at least to suppose her not married yet.— They
must have had a cold visit, but as she found it agreable
I suppose there was no want of Blankets, and we may
trust to her Sister’s taking care that her love of many
should be known. — She sends me no particulars,
having time only to write the needful.—
I wish You a pleasant party tomorrow, & not more
than you like of Miss Hatton’s neck.— Lady B. must
have been a shameless woman if she named H. Hales
as within her Husband’s reach. It is a peice of
impertinence indeed in a Woman to pretend to fix on
( 185 )
50] Friday 20 February 1807
any one, as if she supposed it c d be only ask & have.
A Widower with 8 children has no right to look higher
than his daughter’s Governess. — I am forced to be
abusive for want of subject, having really nothing to
say.— When Martha comes, she will supply me with
matter ; I shall have to tell you how she likes the
House & what she thinks of Mary.— You must be very
cold today at G m . — We are cold here. I expect a
severe March, a wet April, & a sharp May.— And with
this prophecy I must conclude. — My love to every-
body,— Y 18 affec tely J Austen
51. To Cassandra Austen. Wednesday 15 June <1808)
Address (Braboume) : Miss Austen, Castle Square, Southampton
Original not traced.
Braboume i. 341 ; Life 204 (extracts).
Godmersham : Wednesday June 15
My dear Cassandra
Where shall I begin ? Which of all my important
nothings shall I tell you first ? At half after seven
yesterday morning Henry saw us into our own
carriage, and we drove away from the Bath Hotel ;
which, by-the-bye, had been found most uncomfort-
able quarters— very dirty, very noisy, and very ill-
provided. James began his journey by the coach at
five. Our first eight miles were hot ; Deptford Hill
brought to my mind our hot journey into Kent
fourteen years ago ; but after Blackheath we suffered
nothing, and as the day advanced it grew quite cool.
At Dartford, which we reached within the two hours
and three-quarters, we went to the Bull, the same inn
at which we breakfasted in that said journey, and on
the present occasion had about the same bad butter.
( 186 )
Wednesday 15 June 1808 [51
At half-past ten we were again off, and, travelling
on without any adventure reached Sittingbourne by
three. Daniel was watching for us at the door of the
George, and I was acknowledged very kindly by
Mr. and Mrs. Marshall, to the latter of whom I devoted
my conversation, while Mary went out to buy some
gloves. A few minutes, of course, did for Sitting-
bourne ; and so off we drove, drove, drove, and by
six o’clock were at Godmersham.
Our two brothers were walking before the house as
we approached, as natural as life. Fanny and Lizzy
met us in the Hall with a great deal of pleasant joy ;
we went for a few minutes into the breakfast parlour,
and then proceeded to our rooms. Mary has the Hall
chamber. I am in the Yellow room — very literally —
for I am writing in it at this moment. It seems odd
to me to have such a great place all to myself, and to
be at Godmersham without you is also odd.
You are wished for, I assure you : Fanny, who
came to me as soon as she had seen her Aunt James
to her room, and stayed while I dressed, was as
energetic as usual in her longings for you. She is
grown both in height and size since last year, but not
immoderately, looks very well, and seems as to con-
duct and manner just what she was and what one
could wish her to continue.
Elizabeth, who was dressing when we arrived, came
to me for a minute attended by Marianne, Charles, and
Louisa, and, you will not doubt, gave me a very
affectionate welcome. That I had received such from
Edward also I need not mention ; but I do, you see,
because it is a pleasure. I never saw him look in
better health, and Fanny says he is perfectly well.
( 187 )
51] From Godmersham to Southampton
I cannot praise Elizabeth’s looks, but they are
probably affected by a cold. Her little namesake has
gained in beauty in the last three years, though not
all that Marianne has lost. Charles is not quite so
lovely as he was. Louisa is much as I expected, and
Cassandra I find handsomer than I expected, though at
present disguised by such a violent breaking-out that
she does not come down after dinner. She has charm-
ing eyes and a nice open countenance, and seems
likely to be very lovable. Her size is magnificent.
I was agreeably surprised to find Louisa Bridges
still here. She looks remarkably well (legacies are
very wholesome diet), and is just what she always was.
John is at Sandling. Y ou may fancy our dinner party
therefore ; Fanny, of course, belonging to it, and
little Edward, for that day. He was almost too happy,
his happiness at least made him too talkative.
It has struck ten ; I must go to breakfast.
Since breakfast I have had a tete-d-tSte with Edward
in his room ; he wanted to know James’s plans and
mine, and from what his own now are I think it
already nearly certain that I shall return when they
do, though not with them. Edward will be going
about the same time to Alton, where he has business
with Mr. Trimmer, and where he means his son should
join him ; and I shall probably be his companion to
that place, and get on afterwards somehow or other.
I should have preferred a rather longer stay here
certainly, but there is no prospect of any later convey-
ance for mCj as he does not mean to accompany
Edward on his return to Winchester, from a very
natural unwillingness to leave Elizabeth at that time.
I shall at any rate be glad not to be obliged to be an
( 188 )
Wednesday 15 June 1808 [51
incumbrance on those who have brought me here, for,
as James has no horse, I must feel in their carriage
that I am taking his place. We were rather crowded
yesterday, though it does not become me to say so, as
I and my boa were of the party, and it is not to be
supposed but that a child of three years of age was
fidgety.
I need scarcely beg you to keep all this to yourself,
lest it should get round by Anna’s means. She is very
kindly inquired after by her friends here, who all
regret her not coming with her father and mother.
I left Henry, I hope, free from his tiresome com-
plaint, in other respects well, and thinking with great
pleasure of Cheltenham and Stoneleigh.
The brewery scheme is quite at an end : at a meet-
ing of the subscribers last week it was by general, and
I believe very hearty, consent dissolved.
The country is very beautiful. I saw as much as
ever to admire in my yesterday’s journey.
Thursday . — I am glad to find that Anna was pleased
with going to Southampton, and hope with all my
heart that the visit may be satisfactory to everybody.
Tell her that she will hear in a few days from her
mamma, who would have written to her now but for
this letter.
Y esterday passed quite a, la Godmersham : the
gentlemen rode about Edward’s farm, and returned
in time to saunter along Bentigh with us ; and after
dinner we visited the Temple Plantations, which, to
be sure, is a Chevalier Bayard of a plantation. James
and Mary are much struck with the beauty of the
place. To-day the spirit of the thing is kept up by the
two brothers being gone to Canterbury in the chair.
(189)
51] From Godmersham, to Southampton
I cannot discover, even through Fanny, that her
mother is fatigued by her attendance on the children.
I have, of course, tendered my services, and when
Louisa is gone, who sometimes hears the little girls
read, will try to be accepted in her stead. She will not
be here many days longer. The Moores are partly
expected to dine here to-morrow or Saturday.
I feel rather languid and solitary — perhaps because
I have a cold ; but three years ago we were more
animated with you and Harriot and Miss Sharpe. We
shall improve, I dare say, as we go on.
I have not yet told you how the new carriage is
liked — very well, very much indeed, except the lining,
which does look rather shabby.
I hear a very bad account of Mrs. Whitefield ;
a very good one of Mrs. Knight, who goes to Broad-
stairs next month. Miss Sharpe is going with Miss
Bailey to Tenby.
The Widow Kennet succeeds to the
post of laundress.
Would you believe it my trunk is come already;
and, what completes the wondrous happiness, nothing
is damaged. I unpacked it all before I went to bed
last night, and when I went down to breakfast this
morning presented the rug, which was received most
gratefully, and met with universal admiration. My
frock is also given, and kindly accepted.
Friday . — I have received your letter, and I think it
gives me nothing to be sorry for but Mary’s cold,
which I hope is by this time better. Her approbation
of her child’s hat makes me very happy. Mrs. J. A.
bought one at Gayleard’s for Caroline, of the same
shape, but brown and with a feather.
I hope Huxham is a comfort to you ; I am glad you
( 190 )
Wednesday 15 June 1808 [51
are taking it. I shall probably have an opportunity
of giving Harriot your message to-morrow ; she does
not come here, they have not a day to spare, but
Louisa and I are to go to her in the morning. I send
your thanks to Eliza by this post in a letter to Henry.
Lady Catherine is Lord Portmore’s daughter. I
have read Mr. Jefferson’s case to Edward, and he
desires to have his name set down for a guinea and his
wife’s for another ; but does not wish for more than
one copy of the work. Your account of Anna gives me
pleasure. Tell her, with my love, that I like her for
liking the quay. Mrs. J. A. seems rather surprised at
the Maitlands drinking tea with you, but that does not
prevent my approving it. I hope you had not a dis-
agreeable evening with Miss Austen and her niece.
You know how interesting the purchase of a sponge-
cake is to me.
I am now just returned from Eggerton ; Louisa and
I walked together and found Miss Maria at home.
Her sister we met on our way back. She had been to
pay her compliments to Mrs. Inman, whose chaise
was seen to cross the park while we were at dinner
yesterday.
I told Sackree that you desired to be remembered
to her, which pleased her ; and she sends her duty, and
wishes you to know that she has been into the great
world. She went on to town after taking William
to Eltham, and, as well as myself, saw the ladies go
to Court on the 4th. She had the advantage indeed
of me in being in the Palace.
Louisa is not so handsome as I expected, but she is
not quite well. Edward and Caroline seem very
happy here j he has nice playfellows in Lizzy and
( 191 ) ’
51] From Godmersham to Southampton
Charles. They and their attendant have the boys’
attic. Anna will not be surprised that the cutting off
her hair is very much regretted by several of the party
in this house ; I am tolerably reconciled to it by con-
sidering that two or three years may restore it again.
You are very important with your Captain Bulmore
and Hotel Master, and I trust, if your trouble over-
balances your dignity on the occasion, it will be amply
repaid by Mrs. Craven’s approbation, and a pleasant
scheme to see her.
Mrs. Cooke has written to my brother James to
invite him and his wife to Bookham in their way back,
which, as I learn through Edward’s means, they are
not disinclined to accept, but that my being with
them would render it impracticable, the nature of the
road affording no conveyance to James. I shall there-
fore make them easy on that head as soon as I can.
I have a great deal of love to give from everybody.
Yours most affectionately, Jane
My mother will be glad to be assured that the size
of the rug does perfectly well. It is not to be used till
■winter.
52. To Cassandra Austen. Monday 20 June 1808
Address : Miss Austen | Castle Square | Southampton
Postmarks : feversham and jtjn 23 1808
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Braboume i. 350 ; Life 206 (extracts).
Godmersham Monday June 20 th .
My dear Cassandra
I will first talk of my visit to Canterbury, as Mrs.
J. A.’s letter to Anna cannot have given you every
(192)
Monday 20 June 1808 [52
particular of it, which you are likely to wish for.—
I had a most affectionate welcome from Harriot & was
happy to see her looking almost as well as ever. She
walked with me to call on Mrs. Brydges, when Eliz ,h
& Louisa went to Mrs. Milles* Mrs. B. was dressing
& c d not see us, & we proceeded to the White Friars,
where Mrs. K. was alone in her Drawing room, as
gentle & kind & friendly as usual. — She enquired
after every body, especially my Mother & yourself.—
We were with her a quarter of an hour before Eliz. &
Louisa, hot from Mrs. Baskerville’s Shop, walked in ; —
they were soon followed by the Carriage, & another
five minutes brought Mr. Moore himself, just returned
from his morn* ride. Well ! — & what do I think of
Mr. Moore ? — I will not pretend in one meeting to
dislike him, whatever Mary may say, but I can
honestly assure her that I saw nothing in him to
admire. — His manners, as you have always said, are
gentlemanlike — but by no means winning. He made
one formal enquiry after you.— I saw their little girl,
& very small & very pretty she is ; her features are
as delicate as Mary Jane’s, with nice dark eyes, & if
she had Mary Jane’s fine colour, she w d be quite com-
plete. — Harriot’s fondness for her seems just what is
amiable & natural, & not foolish.— I saw Caroline also,
& thought her very plain. — Edward’s plan for Hamp-
shire does not vary, he only improves it with the kind
intention of taking me on to Southampton, & spending
one whole day with you ; & if it is found practicable,
Edward Jun r will be added to our party for that one
day also, which is to be Sunday y® 10 th of July.— I
hope you may have beds for them. We are to begin
our Journey on y® 8 th & reach you late on y® 9 th . — This
( 193 ) o
52] From Godmersham to Southampton
morning brought me a letter from Mrs. Knight, con-
taining the usual Fee, & all the usual Kindness. She
asks me to spend a day or two with her this week, to
meet Mrs. C. Knatchbull, who with her Husband comes
to the W. Friars today — & I beleive I shall go. — I have
consulted Edw fl — & think it will be arranged for Mrs.
J. A.’s going with me one morn 8 , my staying the
night, & Edward’s driving me home the next Even 8 . —
Her very agreable present will make my circumstances
quite easy. I shall reserve half for my Pelisse.—
I hope, by this early return I am sure of seeing
Catherine & Alethea & I propose that either with
or without them you & I & Martha shall have a snug
fortnight while my Mother is at Steventon. — We go
on very well here, Mary finds the Children less trouble-
some than she expected, & independant of them, there
is certainly not much to try the patience or hurt the
spirits at Godmersham. — I initiated her yesterday
into the mysteries of Inman-ism. — The poor old Lady
is as thin & chearful as ever, & very thankful for a new
acquaintance. — I had called on her before with Eliz.
& Louisa.— I find John Bridges grown very old &
black, but his manners are not altered ; he is very
pleasing, & talks of Hampshire with great admiration.
— Pray let Anna have the pleasure of knowing that
she is remembered with kindness both by Mrs. Cooke
& Miss Sharpe. Her manners must be very much
worsted by your description of them, but I hope they
will improve by this visit. — Mrs. Knight finishes her
letter with ‘ Give my best Love to Cassandra when
you write to her.’ — I shall like spending a day at the
White Friars very much. — We breakfasted in the
Library this morn 8 for the first time, & most of the
( 194. )
Monday 20 June 1808 [52
party have been complaining all day of the heat ; but
Louisa & I feel alike as to weather, & are cool and
comfortable. — Wednesday. — The Moores came yester-
day in their Curricle between one & two o’clock, &
immediately after the noonshine which succeeded
their arrival, a party set off for Buckwell to see the
Pond dragged Mr. Moore, James, Edward & James-
Edward on horseback, John Bridges driving Mary in
his gig. — The rest of us remained quietly & comfort-
ably at home. — We had a very pleasant Dinner, at the
lower end of The table at least ; the merriment was
cheifly between Edw d Louisa, Harriot & myself. —
Mr. Moore did not talk so much as I expected, & I
understand from Fanny, that I did not see him at all
as he is in general ; — our being strangers made him so
much more silent & quiet. Had I had no reason for
observing what he said & did, I sh“ scarcely have
thought about him. — His manners to her want Tender-
ness — & he was a little violent at last about the
impossibility of her going to Eastwell. — I cannot see
any unhappiness in her however ; & as to kind-
heartedness &c. she is quite unaltered.— Mary was
disappointed in her beauty, & thought him very dis-
agreable ; James admires her, & finds him conversible
& pleasant. I sent my answer by them to Mrs. Knight,
my double acceptance of her note & her invitation,
which I wrote without much effort ; for I was rich —
& the rich are always respectable, whatever be their
stile of writing. — I am to meet Harriot at dinner to-
morrow ; — it is one of the Audit days, and Mr. M.
dines with the Dean, who is just come to Canterbury.
—On Tuesday there is to be a family meeting at
Mrs. C. Milles’s. — Lady Bridges & Louisa from Good-
(195)
52] From Godmersham to Southampton
nestone, the Moores, & a party from this House, Eliz th
John Bridges & myself. It will give me pleasure to see
Lady B. — she is now quite well. — Louisa goes home
on friday, & John with her ; but he returns the next
day. These are our engagements ; make the most of
them. — Mr. Waller is dead I see I cannot greive
about it, nor perhaps can his Widow very much. —
Edward began cutting SToin on Saturday & I hope
is likely to have favourable weather ; — the crop is
good. — There has been a cold & sorethroat prevailing
very much in this House lately, the Children have
almost all been ill with it, & we were afraid Lizzy was
going to be very ill one day ; she had specks & a great
deal of fever. — It went off however, & they are all
pretty well now. — I want to hear of your gathering
Strawberries, we have had them three times here. —
I suppose you have been obliged to have in some white
wine, & must visit the Store Closet a little oftener than
when you were quite by yourselves. — One begins
really to expect the St. Albans now, & I wish she may
come before Henry goes to Cheltenham, it will be so
much more convenient to him. He will be very glad
if Frank can come to him in London, as his own Time
is likely to be very precious, but does not depend on
it. — I shall not forget Charles next week. — So much
did I write before breakfast — & now to my agreable
surprise I have to acknowledge another Letter from
you.— I had not the least notion of hearing before
tomorrow, & heard of Russell’s being about to pass the
Windows without any anxiety. Y ou are very amiable
& very clever to write such long Letters ; every page
of yours has more lines than this, & every line more
words than the average of mine. I am quite ashamed
( 196 )
Monday 20 June 1808 [52
—but you have certainly more little events than we
have. Mr. Lyford supplies you with a great deal of
interesting Matter (Matter Intellectual, not physical)
—but I have nothing to say of Mr. Scudamore. And
now, that is such a sad stupid attempt at Wit, about
Matter, that nobody can smile at it, & I am quite out
of heart. I am sick of myself, & my bad pens. — I have
no other complaint however, my languor is entirely
removed. — Ought I to be very much pleased with
Marmion ? — as yet I am not. — James reads it aloud in
the Even 8 — the short Even 8 — beginning at about 10,
& broken by supper. — Happy Mrs. Harrison & Miss
Austen ! — Y ou seem to be always calling on them. — I am
glad your various civilities have turned out so well ;
& most heartily wish you success & pleasure in your
present engagement. — I shall think of you tonight as
at Netley, & tomorrow too, that I may be quite sure
of being right — & therefore I guess you will not go to
Netley at all. — This is a sad story about Mrs. Powlett.
I should not have suspected her of such a thing. — She
staid the Sacrament I remember, the last time that
you & I did. — A hint of it, with Initials, was in yester-
day’s Courier ; and Mr. Moore guessed it to be
L d Sackville, beleiving there was no other Viscount S.
in the peerage, & so it proved — L d Viscount Seymour
not being there. — Yes, I enjoy my apartment very
much, & always spend two or three hours in it after
breakfast. — The change from Brompton Quarters to
these is material as to Space. — I catch myself going on
to the Hall Chamber now & then. — Little Caroline
looks very plain among her Cousins, and tho’ she is
not so headstrong or humoursome as they are, I do not
think her at all more engaging. — Her brother is to go
( 197 )
52] From Godmersham to Southampton
with us to Canterbury tomorrow, & Fanny completes
the party. I fancy Mrs. K. feels less interest in that
branch of the family than any other. I dare say she
will do her duty however, by the Boy. — His Uncle
Edward talks nonsense to him delightfully— more than
he can always understand. The two Morrises are
come to dine & spend the day with him. Mary wishes
my Mother to buy whatever she thinks necessary for
Anna’s shifts ; — & hopes to see her at Steventon soon
after y 6 9 th of July, if that time is as convenient to my
Mother as any other. — I have hardly done justice to
what she means on the subject, as her intention is that
my Mother sh d come at whatever time she likes best. —
They will be at home on y e 9 th .— I always come in for
a morning visit from Crondale, & Mr. & Mrs. Filmer
have just given me my due. He & .1 talked away gaily
of Southampton, the Harrisons Wallers &c. — Fanny
sends her best Love to you all, & will write to Anna
very soon.' — -Yours very affec ly Jane
I want some news from Paragon. — I am almost
sorry that Rose Hill Cottage sh d be so near suiting us,
as it does not quite.
53. To Cassandra Austen . Sunday 26 June 1808
Address : Miss Austen | Castle Square | Southampton
Postmarks : feversham and jun 27 1808
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabourne i. 358 ; Life 207 (extracts).
Godmersham, Sunday June 26 th .
My dear Cassandra
I am very much obliged to you for writing to me on
Thursday, & very glad that I owe the pleasure of
( 198 )
Sunday 26 June 1808
[58
hearing from you again so soon, to such an agreable
cause ; but you will not be surprised, nor perhaps so
angry as I sh d be, to find that Frank’s History had
reached me before, in a letter from Henry. We are all
very happy to hear of his health & safety ; he wants
nothing but a good Prize to be a perfect Character.—
This scheme to the Island is an admirable thing for
his wife ; she will not feel the delay of his return, in
such variety. — How very kind of Mrs. Craven to ask
her ! — I think I quite understand the whole Island
arrangements, & shall be very ready to perform my
part in them. I hope my Mother will go— & I trust it
is certain that there will be Martha’s bed for Edward
when he brings me home. What can you do with
Anna ? — for her bed will probably be wanted for
young Edward.— His Father writes to Dr. Goddard
today to ask leave, & we have the Pupil’s authority
for thinking it will be granted.— I have been so kindly
pressed to stay longer here, in consequence of an offer
of Henry’s to take me back some time in September,
that not being able to detail all my objections to such
a plan, I have felt myself obliged to give Edw d and
Eliz th one private reason for my wishing to be at home
in July.— They feel the strength of it, & say no more ;
— & one can rely on their secrecy.— After this, I hope
we shall not be disappointed of our Friends’ visit ;—
my honour, as well as my affection will be concerned
in it— Eliza th has a very sweet scheme of our accom-
panying Edward into Kent next Christmas. A Legacy
might make it very feasible ; — a Legacy is our sove-
reign good.— In the mean while, let me remember that
I have now some money to spare, & that I wish to have
mv name put down as a subscriber to Mr. Jefferson’s
(199)
58] From Godtnersham to Southampton
works. My last Letter was closed before it occurred
to me how possible, how right, & how gratifying such
a measure w* 1 be. — Your account of your Visitors’
good Journey, voyage, & satisfaction in everything
gave me the greatest pleasure. They have nice
weather for their introduction to the Island, & I hope
with such a disposition to be pleased, their general
Enjoyment is as certain as it will be just. — Anna’s
being interested in the Embarkation shows a Taste
that one values. — Mary Jane’s delight in the water is
quite ridiculous. Elizabeth supposes Mrs. Hall will
account for it, by the Child’s knowledge of her Father’s
being at sea. — Mrs. J. A. hopes as I said in my last, to
see my Mother soon after her return home, & will meet
her at Winchester on any day, she will appoint. — And
now I beleive I have made all the needful replys &
communications ; & may disport myself as I can on
my Canterbury visit. — It was a very agreable visit.
There was everything to make it so ; Kindness, con-
versation, & variety, without care or cost. — Mr.
Knatchbull from Provendar was at the W. Friars
when we arrived, & staid dinner, which with Harriot —
who came as you may suppose in a great hurry,
ten minutes after the time — made our number 6,~—
Mr. K. went away early ; — Mr. Moore succeeded him,
& we sat quietly working & talking till 10, when he
ordered his wife away, & we adj ourned to the Dressing
room to eat our Tart & Jelly. — Mr. M. was not un-
agreable, tho’ nothing seemed to go right with him.
He is a sensible Man, & tells a story well. — Mrs. C.
Knatchbull & I breakfasted tete a tete the next day,
for her Husband was gone to Mr. Toke’s, & Mrs.
Kniffht had a sad headache which kept her in bed.
( 200 )
Sunday 26 June 1808 [58
She had had too much company the day before ; —
after my coming, which was not till past two, she had
Mrs. M of Nackington, a Mrs. & Miss Gregory, &
Charles Graham ; & she told me it had been so all the
morning. — Very soon after breakfast on friday Mrs. C.
K. — who is just what we have always seen her —
went with me to Mrs. Brydges’ & Mrs. Moore’s, paid
some other visits while I remained with the latter, &
we finished with Mrs. C. Milles, who luckily was not at
home, & whose new House is a very convenient short
cut from the Oaks to the W. Friars. — We found
Mrs. Knight up and better — but early as it was —
only 12 o’clock — we had scarcely taken off our Bonnets
before company came, Ly. Knatchbull & her Mother ;
& after them succeeded Mrs. White, Mrs. Hughes &
her two Children, Mr. Moore, Harriot & Louisa, & John
Bridges, with such short intervals between any, as to
make it a matter of wonder to me, that Mrs. K. &
I should ever have been ten minutes alone, or have had
any leisure for comfortable Talk. — Yet we had time
to say a little of Everything. — Edward came to dinner,
& at 8 o’clock he and I got into the Chair, & the
pleasures of my visit concluded with a delightful drive
home. — Mrs. & Miss Brydges seemed very glad to see
me. — The poor old Lady looks much as she did three
years ago, & was very particular in her enquiries after
my Mother ; — and from her, & from the Knatchbulls,
I have all manner of kind Compliments to give you
both. As Fanny writes to Anna by this post, I had
intended to keep my Letter for another day, but
recollecting that I must keep it two, I have resolved
rather to finish & send it now. The two letters will
not interfere I dare say ; on the contrary, they may
(2d)
53] From Godmersham to Southampton
throw light on each other. — Mary begins to fancy,
because she has received no message on the subject,
that Anna does not mean to answer her Letter ; but
it must be for the pleasure of fancying it. I think
Eliz th better & looking better than when we came.—
Yesterday I introduced James to Mrs. Inman ; in the
evening John Bridges returned from Goodnestone —
& this morn 8 before we had left the Breakfast Table
we had a visit from Mr. Whitfield, whose object
I imagine was principally to thank my Eldest Brother
for his assistance. Poor Man ! — he has now a little
intermission of his excessive solicitude on his wife’s
account, as she is rather better. — James does Duty at
Godmersham today. — The Knatchbulls had intended
coming here next week, but the Rentday makes it
impossible for them to be received, & I do not think
there will be any spare time afterwards. They return
into Somersetshire by way of Sussex & Hants, & are
to be at Fareham— & perhaps may be in Southampton,
on which possibility I said all that I thought right
& if they are in the place, Mrs. K. has promised to call
in Castle Square it will <be> about the end of July.
She seems to have a prospect however of being in
that Country again in the Spring for a longer period,
& will spend a day with us if she is.-You & I need
not tell eachother how glad we shall be to receive
attention from, or pay it to anyone connected with
Mrs. Knight. — I cannot help regretting that now,
when I feel enough her equal to relish her society,
I see so little of the latter. — The Milles’ of Nackington
dine here on friday & perhaps the Hattons. It is
a compliment as much due to me, as a call from the
Filmers, When you write to the Island, Mary will be
( 202 )
Sunday 26 June 1808 [58
glad to have Mrs. Craven informed with her Love that
she is now sure it will not be in her power to visit
Mrs. Craven during her stay there, but that if Mrs.
Craven can take Steventon in her way back, it will be
giving my brother & herself great pleasure. — She also
congratulates her namesake on hearing from her Hus-
band. — That said namesake is rising in the World ; —
she was thought excessively improved in her late
visit. — Mrs. Knight thought her so, last year. — Henry
sends us the welcome information of his having had
no face-ache since I left them. — -You are very kind in
mentioning old Mrs. Williams so often. Poor Creature !
—I cannot help hoping that each Letter may tell of
her sufferings being over. — If she wants sugar, I sh d
like to supply her with it. — The Moores went yesterday
to Goodnestone, but return tomorrow. After Tuesday
we shall see them no more — tho’ Harriot is very
earnest with Edw d to make Wrotham in his Journey,
but we shall be in too great a hurry to get nearer to it
than Wrotham Gate. — He wishes to reach Guilford on
friday night — that we may have a couple of hours to
spare for Alton. — I shall be sorry to pass the door at
Seale without calling, but it must be so — & I shall be
nearer to Bookham than I c d wish, in going from
Dorking to Guilford — but till I have a travelling
purse of my own, I must submit to such things. — The
Moores leave Canterbury on friday — & go for a day or
two to Sandling. — I really hope Harriot is altogether
very happy — but she cannot feel quite so much at her
ease with her Husband, as the wives she has been
used to. —
Good-bye. I hope you have been long recovered
from your worry on Thursday morn g , — & that you do
( 203 )
53] From Godmersham to Southampton
not much mind not going to the Newbury Races.
I am withstanding those of Canterbury. Let that
strengthen you. —
Y» very sincerely
Jane
54. To Cassandra Austen . Thursday 80 June 1808
Address : Miss Austen | Castle Square | Southampton
Postmarks : feversham and jul 2 1808
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabourne i. 866 ; Life 207 (extracts).
Godmersham, Thursday June 30 th .
My dear Cassandra
I give you all joy of Frank’s return, which happens
in the true sailor way, just after our being told not to
expect him for some weeks. — The IVind has been very
much against him, but I suppose he must be in our
Neighbourhood by this time. Fanny is in hourly
expectation of him here— Mary’s visit in the Island is
probably shortened by this Event. Make our kind
Love & Congratulations to her. — What cold, dis-
agreeable weather, ever since Sunday !— I dare say
you have Fires every day. My kerseymere Spencer
is quite the comfort of our Even 8 walks. — Mary thanks
Anna for her Letter, & wishes her to buy enough of
her new coloured frock to make a shirt handkf. I am
glad to hear of her Aunt Maitland’s kind present— We
want you to send us Anna’s height, that we may know
whether she is as tall as Fanny ;— and pray can you
tell me of any little thing that w d be probably accept-
able to Mrs. F. A. — I wish to bring her something ;
has she a silver knife— or w* 1 you recommend a Broche?
(204)
Thursday 30 June 1808 [54
I shall not spend more than half a guinea about it. —
Our Tuesday’s Engagement went off very pleasantly ;
we called first on Mrs. Knight, & found her very well ;
& at dinner had only the Milles’ of Nackington in
addition to Goodnestone & Godmersham & Mrs.
Moore. — Lady Bridges looked very well, & w d have
been very agreable I am sure, had there been time
enough for her to talk to me, but as it was, she c d only
be kind & amiable, give me good-humoured smiles &
make friendly enquiries. — Her son Edward was also
looking very well, & with manners as un-altered as
hers. In the Even 6 came Mr. Moore, Mr. Toke, Dr. &
Mrs. Walsby & others one Card Table was formed,
the rest of us sat & talked, & at half after nine we
came away. — Yesterday my two Brothers went to
Canterbury, and J. Bridges left us for London in his
way to Cambridge, where he is to take his Master’s
Degree. — Edward & Caroline & their Mama have all
had the Godmersham Cold ; the former with sore-
throat & fever which his Looks are still suffering from.
—He is very happy here however, but I beleive the
little girl will be glad to go home her Cousins are
too much for her.— We are to have Edward, I find, at
Southampton while his Mother is in Berkshire for the
Races & are very likely to have his Father too. If
circumstances are favourable, that will be a good time
for our scheme to Beaulieu. Lady E. Hatton called
here a few mornings ago, her Daughter Eliz th with
her, who says as little as ever, but holds up her head
& smiles & is to be at the Races. — Annamaria was
there with Mrs. Hope, but we are to see her here
tomorrow.— So much was written before breakfast ;
it is now half past twelve, & having heard Lizzy read,
( 205)
54] From Godmersham to Southampton
I am moved down into the Library for the sake of
a fire which agreably surprised us when we assembled
at Ten, & here in warm & happy solitude proceed to
acknowledge this day’s Letter. We give you credit
for your spirited voyage, & are very glad it was accom-
plished so pleasantly, & that Anna enjoyed it so much.
— I hope you are not the worse for the fatigue — but to
embark at 4 you must have got up at 3, & most likely
had no sleep at all.— Mary’s not chusing to be at home,
occasions a general small surprise. — As to Martha, she
has not the least chance in the world of hearing from
me again, & I wonder at her impudence in proposing
it. — I assure you I am as tired of writing long letters
as you can be. What a pity that one should still be so
fond of receiving them ! — -Fanny Austen’s Match is
quite news, & I am sorry she has behaved so ill. There
is some comfort to us in her misconduct, that we have
not a congratulatory Letter to write. James &
Edward are gone to Sandling today ; — a nice scheme
for James, as it will shew him a new & fine Country.
Edward certainly excels in doing the Honours to his
visitors, & providing for their amusement. — They
come back this Even*.— Elizabeth talks of going with
her three girls to Wrotham while her husband is in
Hampshire ;— she is improved in looks since we first
came, & excepting a cold, does not seem at all unwell.
She is considered indeed as more than usually active
for her situation & size.— I have tried to give James
pleasure by telling him of his Daughter’s Taste, but
if he felt, he did not express it.— I rejoice in it very
sincerely. — Henry talks, or rather writes of going to
the Downes, if the St. Albans continues there— but
I hope it will be settled otherwise. — I had everybody’s
( 206 )
Thursday 80 June 1808 [54
congratulations on her arrival, at Canterbury ; it is
pleasant to be among people who know one’s connec-
tions & care about them ; & it amuses me to hear
John Bridges talk of ‘ Frank.’ — I have thought a little
of writing to the Downs, but I shall not ; it is so very
certain that he w d be somewhere else when my Letter
got there.— Mr. Tho. Leigh is again in Town— or was
very lately. Henry met with him last Sunday in St.
James’s Church. — He owned being come up unex-
pectedly on Business — which we of course think can
be only one business — & he came post from Adlestrop
in one day, which — if it c d be doubted before — con-
vinces Henry that he will live for ever. — Mrs. Knight
is kindly anxious for our Good, & thinks Mr. L. P.
must be desirous for his Family's sake to have every-
thing settled. — Indeed, I do not know where we are to
get our Legacy — but we will keep a sharp look-out. —
Lady B. was all in prosperous Black the other day. —
A Letter from Jenny Smalboneto her Daughter brings
intelligence which is to be forwarded to my Mother,
the calving of a Cow at Steventon. — I am also to give
her Mama’s Love to Anna, & say that as her Papa
talks of writing her a Letter of comfort she will not
write, because she knows it w d certainly prevent his
doing so. — When are calculations ever right ? — I could
have sworn that Mary must have heard of the St.
Albans return, & w d have been wild to come home, or
to be doing something. — Nobody ever feels or acts,
suffers or enjoys, as one expects. — I do not at all regard
Martha’s disappointment in the Island ; she will like
it the better in the end. — I cannot help thinking &
re-thinking of your going to the Island so heroically.
It puts me in mind of Mrs. Hastings’ voyage down the
( 207 )
54] From Godmersham to Southampton
Ganges, & if we had but a room to retire into to eat
our fruit, we w d have a picture of it hung there.—
Friday July l 8t — The weather is mended, which I
attribute to my writing about it — & I am in hopes, as
you make no complaint, tho’ on the Water & at 4 in
the morn 8 — that it has not been so cold with you.—
It will be two years tomorrow since we left Bath for
Clifton, with what happy feelings of Escape !— This
post has brought me a few lines from the amiable
Frank, but he gives us no hope of seeing him here. —
We are not unlikely to have a peep at Henry who,
unless the St. Albans moves quickly, will be going to
the Downs, & who will not be able to be in Kent with-
out giving a day or two to Godmersham. — James has
heard this morn 8 from Mrs. Cooke, in reply to his
offer of taking Bookham in his way home, which is
kindly accepted ; & Edw d has had a less agreeable
answer from Dr. Goddard, who actually refuses the
petition. Being once fool enough to make a rule of
never letting a Boy go away an hour before the
Breaking up Hour, he is now fool enough to keep it.
We are all disappointed.— His Letter brings a double
disappointment, for he has no room for George this
summer. — My Brothers returned last night at 10,
having spent a very agreable day in the usual routine.
They found Mrs. D. at home, & Mr. D. returned from
Business abroad, to dinner. James admires the place
very much, & thinks the two Eldest girls handsome —
but Mary’s beauty has the preference. — The number
of Children struck him a good deal, for not only are
their own Eleven all at home, but the three little
Bridgeses are also with them. — James means to go
once more to Cant y to see his friend Dr. Marlowe, who
( 208 )
Thursday 30 June 1808 [54
is coming about this time j — I shall hardly have
another opportunity of going there. In another week
I shall be at home — & then, my having been at
Godmersham will seem like a Dream, as my visit at
Brompton seems already. The Orange Wine will
want our Care soon. — But in the meantime for
Elegance & Ease & Luxury— ; the Hattons & Milles’
dine here today— & I shall eat Ice & drink French
wine, & be above vulgar Economy. Luckily the
pleasures of Friendship, of unreserved Conversation,
of similarity of Taste & Opinions, will make good
amends for Orange Wine. —
Little Edw d is quite well again. —
Y rs affec: with Love from all, J. A.
55. To Cassandra Austen. Saturday 1 Oct. 1808
Address : Miss Austen | Edward Austen’s Esq r | Godmersham
Park | Faversham | Kent
Postmarks : Southampton and oct 3 1808
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Braboume ii. 4 ; Life 210 (extracts). A few lines unpublished.
Castle Square, Saturday Oct r 1.
My dear Cassandra
Your letter this morning was quite unexpected, &
it is well that it brings such good news to counter-
balance the disappointment to me of losing my first
sentence, which I had arranged full of proper hopes
about your Journey, intending to commit them to
paper today, & not looking for certainty till tomorrow.
—We are extremely glad to hear of the birth of the
Child, & trust everything will proceed as well as it
begins ; — his Mama has our best wishes, & he
( 209 )
our
I
55] From Southampton to Godmersham
second best for health & comfort— tho’ I suppose
unless he has our best too, we do nothing for her.
We are glad it was all over before your arrival ; — &
I am most happy to find who the Godmother is to be.
—My Mother was some time guessing the names.—
Henry’s present to you gives me great pleasure, &
I shall watch the weather for him at this time with
redoubled interest —We have had 4 brace of Birds
lately, in equal Lots from Shalden & Neatham. — Our
party at Mrs. Duer’s produced the novelties of two
old Mrs. Pollens & Mrs. Heywood, with whom My
mother made a Quadrille Table ; & of Mrs. Maitland
& Caroline, & Mr. Booth without his sisters at Com-
merce. — 1 have got a Husband for each of the Miss
Maitlands ; — Col n Powlett & his Brother have taken
Argyle’s inner House, & the consequence is so natural
that I have no ingenuity in planning it. If the
Brother sh d luckily be a little sillier than the Colonel,
what a treasure for Eliza —Mr. Lyford called on
tuesday to say that he was disappointed of his son &
daughter’s coming, & must go home himself the
following morn 6 ; — & as I was determined that he
sh d not lose every pleasure I consulted him on my
complaint. He recommended cotton moistened with
oil of sweet almonds, & it has done me good.— I hope
therefore to have nothing more to do with Eliza’s
receipt than to feel obliged to her for giving it as I very
sincerely do. — -Mrs. Tils on’s remembrance gratifies
me, & I will use her patterns if I can ; but poor
Woman ! how can she be honestly breeding again ?—
I have just finished a Handkf. for Mrs. James Austen,
which I expect her Husband to give me an oppor-
tunity of sending to her ere long. Some fine day in
( 210 )
Saturday 1 October 1808 [55
October will certainly bring him to us in the Garden,
between three & four o’clock— She hears that Miss
Bigg is to be married in a fortnight. I wish it may
be so— About an hour & half after your toils on
Wednesday ended, ours began;— at seven o’clock,
Mrs. Harrison, her two daughters & two Visitors,
with Mr. Dcbary & his eldest sister walked in ; & our
Labour was not a great deal shorter than poor Eliza-
beth’s, for it was past eleven before we were delivered.
—A second pool of Commerce, & all the longer by the
addition of the two girls, who during the first had one
corner of the Table & Spillikens to themselves, was
the ruin of us ;— it completed the prosperity of Mr.
Debary however, for he won them both— Mr. Harrison
came in late, & sat by the fire— for which I envied
him, as we had our usual luck of having a very cold
Evens. It rained when our company came, but was
dry again before they left us— The Miss Ballards are
said to be remarkably well-informed ; their manners
are unaffected and pleasing, but they do not talk quite
freely enough to be agreable — nor can I discover any
right they had by Taste or Feeling to go their late
Tour.— Miss Austen & her nephew are returned— but
Mr. Choles is still absent ; — ‘ still absent ’ say you,
1 1 did not know that he was gone anywhere ’ —
Neither did I know that Lady Bridges was at God-
mersham at all, till I was told of her being still there,
which I take therefore to be the most approved
method of announcing arrivals & departures. — Mr.
Choles is gone to drive a Cow to Brentford, & his
place is supplied to us by a Man who lives in the same
sort of way by odd jobs, & among other capabilities
has that of working in a garden, which my Mother
( 211 )
55] From Southampton to Godmersham
will not forget, if we ever have another garden here. — -
In general however she thinks much more of Alton,
& really expects to move there. — Mrs. Lyell’s 130
Guineas rent have made a great impression. To the
purchase of furniture, whether here or there, she is
quite reconciled, & talks of the Tvoublo as the only
evil. — I depended upon Henry’s liking the Alton plan,
& expect to hear of something perfectly unexception-
able there, through him.— Our Yarmouth Division
seem to have got nice Lodgings ; — & with fish almost
for nothing, & plenty of Engagements & plenty of
each other, must be very happy— My mother has
undertaken to cure six Hams for Frank ; — at first it
was a distress, but now it is a pleasure. — She desires
me to say that she does not doubt your making out
the Star pattern very well, as you have the Breakfast-
room-rug to look at. — We have got the 2 d vol. of
Espriella’s Letters, & I read it aloud by candlelight.
The Man describes well, but is horribly anti-english.
He deserves to be the foreigner he assumes. Mr.
Debary went away yesterday, & I being gone with
some partridges to St. Maries lost his parting visit.
I have heard today from Miss Sharpe, & find that she
returns with Miss B. to Hinckley, & will continue
there at least till about Christmas, when she thinks
they may both travel southward. — Miss B. however
is probably to make only a temporary absence from
Mr. Chessyre, & I sh d not wonder if Miss Sharpe were
to continue with her ; — unless anything more eligible
offer, she certainly will. She describes Miss B. as very
anxious that she should do so. — Sunday. I had not
expected to hear from you again so soon, & am much
obliged to you for writing as you did ; but now as you
( 212 )
Saturday 1 October 1808 [55
must have a great deal of the business upon your
hands, do not trouble yourself with me for the present;
— I shall consider silence as good news, & not expect
another Letter from you till friday or Saturday. —
You must have had a great deal more rain than has
fallen here ; — cold enough it has been but not wet,
except for a few hours on Wednesday Even*, & I could
have found nothing more plastic than dust to stick
in ; — now indeed we are likely to have a wet day — &
tho’ Sunday, my Mother begins it without any ail-
ment. — Your plants were taken in one very cold
blustering day & placed in the Dining room, & there
was a frost the very same night. — If we have warm
weather again they are to be put out of doors, if not
my Mother will have them conveyed to their Winter
quarters. — I gather some Currants every now & then,
when I want either fruit or employment. — Pray tell
my little Goddaughter that I am delighted to hear
of her saying her lesson so well. — You have used me
ill, you have been writing to Martha without telling
me of it, & a letter which I sent her on Wednesday to
give her information of you, must have been good for
nothing. I do not know how to think that something
will not still happen to prevent her returning by ye
10 th — And if it does, I shall not much regard it on
my own account, for I am now got into such a way of
being alone that I do not wish even for her.— The
Marquis has put off being cured for another year
after waiting some weeks in vain for the return of the
Vessel he had agreed for, he is gone into Cornwall to
order a Vessel built for himself by a famous Man in
that Country, in which he means to go abroad a
twelvemonth hence. —
( 213 )
55] From Southampton to Godmersham
Everybody who comes to Southampton finds it
either their duty or pleasure to call upon us ; Yester-
day we were visited by the eldest Miss Cotterel, just
arrived from Waltham. Adeiu With Love to all,
Y 18 affec: ly J A.
We had two Pheasants last night from Neatham.
Tomorrow Even® is to be given to the Maitlands ;
we are just asked, to meet Mrs. Heywood & Mrs. Duer.
56. To Cassandra Austen. Friday 7 Oct. 1808
Address : Miss Austen | Edward Austen’s Esq r | Godmersham
Park | Faversbam | Kent
Postmarks : Southampton and oct 10 1808
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabourne ii. 11 j Life 212 (extracts).
Castle Square, Friday Oct. 7.—
My dear Cassandra
Your letter on Tuesday gave us great pleasure, &
we congratulate you all upon Elizabeth s hitherto
happy recovery ; — tomorrow or Sunday I hope to hear
of it’s advancing in the same stile. — We are also very
glad to know that you are so well yourself, & pray
you to continue so.— I was rather surprised on Monday
bv the arrival of a letter for you from your Winchester
Corre pendent, who seemed perfectly unsuspicious of
your being likely to be at Godmersham ;-I took com-
plete possession of the Letter by reading, paying or,
& answering it ;-and he will have the Biscuits today,
—a very proper day for the purpose, tho I did not
think of it at the time. — I wish my Brother joy o
completing his 30* year— & hope the day will be
remembered better than it was six years ago. Ihe
( 214 )
Friday 7 October 1808 [56
Masons are now repairing the Chimney, which they
found in such a state as to make it wonderful that it
sh d have stood so long, & next to impossible that
another violent wind should not blow it down. We
may therefore thank you perhaps for saving us from
being thumped with old bricks. — You are also to be
thank’d by Eliza’s desire for your present to her of
dyed sattin, which is made into a bonnet, & I fancy
surprises her by it’s good appearance. — My Mother is
preparing mourning for Mrs. E. K. — she has picked
her old silk pelisse to peices, & means to have it dyed
black for a gown — a very interesting scheme, tho’ just
now a little injured by finding that it must be placed
in Mr. Wren’s hands, for Mr. Chambers is gone. — As
for Mr. Floor, he is at present rather low in our estima-
tion ; how is your blue gown ? — Mine is all to peices. —
I think there must have been something wrong in the
dye, for in places it divided with a Touch. — There
was four shillings thrown away ; — to be added to my
subjects of never failing regret.— We found ourselves
tricked into a thorough party at Mrs. Maitland’s, a
quadrille & a Commerce Table, & Music in the other
room. There were two pools at Commerce, but I
would not play more than one, for the Stake was three
shillings, & I cannot afford to lose that, twice in an
even*. — The Miss Ms. were as civil & as silly as usual.
— You know of course that Martha comes today ;
yesterday brought us notice of it, & the Spruce Beer
is brewed in consequence.— On Wednesday I had a
letter from Yarmouth to desire me to send Mary’s
flannels & furs, &c — & as there was a packing case at
hand, I could do it without any trouble. — On Tuesday
Even* Southampton was in a good deal of alarm for
(215)
56] From Southampton to Godmersham
about an hour ; a fire broke out soon after nine at
Webbes, the Pastrycook, & burnt for some time with
great fury. I cannot learn exactly how it originated,
at the time it was said to be their Bakehouse, but now
I hear it was in the back of their Dwelling house, &
that one room was consumed. — The Flames were
considerable, they seemed about as near to us as those
at Lyme, & to reach higher. One could not but feel
uncomfortable, & I began to think of what I should do,
if it came to the worst ; — happily however the night
was perfectly still, the Engines were immediately in
use, & before ten the fire was nearly extinguished—
tho’ it was twelve before everything was considered
safe, & a Guard was kept the whole night. Our
friends the Duers were alarmed, but not out of their
good Sense or Benevolence. — I am afraid the Webbes
have lost a great deal — more perhaps from ignorance
or plunder than the Fire ; — they had a large stock of
valuable China, & in order to save it, it was taken
from the House, & thrown down anywhere— The
adjoining House, a Toyshop, was almost equally
injured — & Hibbs, whose House comes next, was so
scared from his senses that he was giving away all his
goods, valuable Laces &c, to anybody who w d take
them. — The Croud in the High S‘ I understand was
immense ; Mrs. Harrison, who was drinking tea with
a Lady at Millar’s, could not leave it twelve o’clock. —
Such are the prominent features of our fire. Thank
God ! they were not worse. —
Saturday. — Thank you for your Letter, which found
me at the Breakfast-Table, with my two companions.
— I am greatly pleased with your account of Fanny ;
I found her in the summer just what you describe,
( 216 )
ELIZABETH AUSTEN (nee Bridges)
a
SU'
Friday 7 October 1808 [56
almost another Sister, — & could not have supposed
that a neice would ever have been so much to me.
She is quite after one’s own heart ; give her my best
Love, & tell her that I always think of her with
pleasure. — I am much obliged to you for enquiring
about my ear, & am happy to say that Mr. Lyford’s
prescription has entirely cured me. I feel it a great
blessing to hear again.— Your gown shall be unpicked,
but I do not remember it’s being settled so before. —
Martha was here by half past six, attended by Lyddy ;
— they had some rain at last, but a very good Journey
on the whole ; & if Looks & Words may be trusted
Martha is very happy to be returned. We receive her
with Castle Square-weather, it has blown a gale from
the N.W. ever since she came — & we feel ourselves in
luck that the Chimney was mended yesterday. — She
brings several good things for the Larder, which is
now very rich ; we had a pheasant & hare the other
day from the Mr. Grays of Alton. Is this to entice
us to Alton, or to keep us away ? — Henry had pro-
bably some share in the two last baskets from that
Neighbourhood, but we have not seen so much of his
handwriting even as a direction to either. Martha
was an hour & half in Winchester, walking about
with the three boys & at the Pastrycook’s. — She
thought Edward grown, & speaks with the same
admiration as before of his Manners ; — she saw in
George a little likeness to his uncle Henry.— I am
glad you are to see Harriot, give my Love to her. —
I wish you may be able to accept Lady Bridges’s
invitation, tho’ I could not her son Edward’s ; — she
is a nice Woman, & honours me by her remembrance.—
Do you recollect whether the Manydown family send
( 217 )
56] From Southampton to Godmersham
about their Wedding Cake ?— Mrs. Dundas has set her
heart upon having a peice from her friend Catherine,
& Martha who knows what importance she attaches
to the sort of thing, is anxious for the sake of both
that there sh d not be a disappointment— Our weather
I fancy has been just like yours, we have had some
very delightful days, our 5 th & 6 th were what the 5 th
& 6 th of October should always be, but we have always
wanted a fire within doors, at least except for just the
middle of the day. — Martha does not find the key,
which you left in my charge for her, suit the keyhole—
& wants to know whether you think you can have
mistaken it.— It should open the interior of her High
Drawers — but she is in no hurry about it.
Sunday— It is cold enough now for us to prefer
dining upstairs to dining below without a fire, & being
only three we manage it very well, & today with two
more we shall do just as well, I dare say ; Miss Foote
& Miss Wethered are coming. My mother is much
pleased with Elizabeth 5 s admiration of the rug &
pray tell Elizabeth that the new mourning gown is to
be made double only in the body & sleeves. Martha
thanks you for your message, & desires you may be
told with her best Love that your wishes are answered
& that she is full of peace & comfort here.— I do not
think however that here she will remain a great while,
she does not herself expect that Mrs. Dundas will be
able to do with her long. She wishes to stay with us
till Christmas if possible. — Lyddy goes home to-
morrow ; she seems well, but does not mean to go to
service at present.-The Wallops are returned. Mr.
John Harrison has paid his visit of duty & is gone.
We have got a new Physician, a Dr. Percival, the son
( 218 )
Friday 7 October 1808 [56
of a famous Dr. Percival of Manchester, who wrote
moral tales for Edward to give to me. — When you
write again to Catherine, thank her on my part for
her very kind & welcome mark of friendship. I shall
value such a Broche very much. — Good bye my
dearest Cassandra.
Y re very affec: ly J A.
Have you written to Mrs. E. Leigh ?— Martha will
be glad to find Anne in work at present, & I am as
glad to have her so found. — We must turn our black
pelisses into new, for velvet is to be very much worn
this winter. —
57 . To Cassandra Austen. < Thursday > 13 Oct. 1808
Address : Miss Austen | Edward Austen’s Esq r | Godmersham
Park | Faversham | Kent
Postmarks : Southampton and oct 14 1808
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabourne ii. 18 ; Life 213 (extracts),
Castle Square, Oct r 13 .
My dearest Cassandra
I have received your Letter, & with most melan-
choly anxiety was it expected, for the sad news
reached us last night, but without any particulars ;
it came in a short letter to Martha from her sister,
begun at Steventon, & finished in Winchester.— We
have felt, we do feel, for you all— as you will not need
to be told— for you, for Fanny, for Henry, for Lady
Bridges, & for dearest Edward, whose loss and whose
sufferings seem to make those of every other person
nothing. — God be praised ! that you can say what
you do of him— that he has a religious Mind to bear
( 219 )
57] From Southampton to Godmersham
him up, & a Disposition that will gradually lead him
to comfort. — My dear, dear Fanny ! — I am so thankful
that she has you with her !— You will be everything
to her, you will give her all the Consolation that
human aid can give. — May the Almighty sustain you
ah — & keep you my dearest Cassandra well — but for
the present I dare say you are equal to everything. —
You will know that the poor Boys are at Steventon,
perhaps it is best for them, as they will have more
means of exercise & amusement there than they c' J
have with us, but I own myself disappointed by the
arrangement 5 - — X should have loved to have them
with me at such a time. I shall write to Edward by
this post. — We shall of course hear from you again
very soon, & as often as you can write.-— We will write
as you desire, & I shall add Bookham. Hamstall
I suppose you write to yourselves, as you do not
mention it.— What a comfort that Mrs. Deedes is saved
from present misery & alarm — but it will fall heavy
upon poor Harriot — & as for Lady B. but that her
fortitude does seem truely great, I should fear the
effect of such a Blow & so unlooked for. I long to
hear more of you all. — Of Henry’s anguish, I think
with greif and solicitude ; but he will exert himself
to be of use & comfort. With what true sympathy
our feelings are shared by Martha, you need not be
told she is the friend & sister under every circum-
stance. We need not enter into a Panegyric on the
Departed — but it is sweet to think of her great worth
0 f her solid principles, her true devotion, her ex-
cellence in every relation of Life. It is also consolatory
to reflect on the shortness of the sufferings which led
her from this World to a better. — Farewell for the
( 220 )
Thursday 13 October 1808 [57
present, my dearest Sister. Tell Edward that we feel
for him & pray for him. —
Y rs affec t9ly J Austen
I will write to Catherine.
Perhaps you can give me some directions about
Mourning.
58. To Cassandra Austen.
Address: Miss Austen Edward Austen’s Esq. Godmersham Park
Faversham Kent. Postmark : oct 17 1808.
Historical Soc. of Pennsylvania.
Brabourne ii. 21 ; Life 214 (extracts).
Castle Square : Saturday night October 15.
My dear Cassandra,
Your accounts make us as comfortable as we can
expect to be at such a time. Edward’s loss is terrible,
and must be felt as such, and these are too early days
indeed to think of moderation in grief, either in him
or his afflicted daughter, but soon we may hope that
our dear Fanny’s sense of duty to that beloved father
will rouse her to exertion. For his sake, and as the
most acceptable proof of love to the spirit of her
departed mother, she will try to be tranquil and
resigned. Does she feel you to be a comfort to her,
or is she too much overpowered for anything but
solitude ?
Your account of Lizzy is very interesting. Poor
child ! One must hope the impression will be strong,
and yet one’s heart aches for a dejected mind of eight
years old.
I suppose you see the corpse ? How does it appear ?
We are anxious to be assured that Edward will not
( 221 )
58] From Southampton to Godmersham
attend the funeral, but when it comes to the point
I think he must feel it impossible.
Your parcel shall set off on Monday, and I hope
the shoes will fit ; Martha and I both tried them on.
I shall send you such of your mourning as I think
most likely to be useful, reserving for myself your
stockings and half the velvet, in which selfish arrange-
ment I know I am doing what you wish.
I am to be in bombazeen and crape, according to
what we are told is universal here, and which agrees
with Martha’s previous observation. My mourning,
however, will not impoverish me, for by having my
velvet pelisse fresh lined and made up, I am sure
I shall have no occasion this winter for anything new
of that sort. I take my cloak for the lining, and shall
send yours on the chance of its doing something of
the same for you, though I believe your pelisse is in
better repair than mine. One Miss Baker makes my
gown and the other my bonnet, which is to be silk
covered with crape.
I have written to Edward Cooper, and hope he will
not send one of his letters of cruel comfort to my poor
brother ; and yesterday I wrote to Alethea Bigg, in
reply to a letter from her. She tells us in confidence
that Catherine is to be married on Tuesday se’nnight.
Mr. Hill is expected at Manydown in the course of the
ensuing week.
We are desired by Mrs. Harrison and Miss Austen
to say everything proper for them to yourself and
Edward on this sad occasion, especially that nothing
but a wish of not giving additional trouble where so
much is inevitable prevents their writing themselves to
express their concern. They seem truly to feel concern.
( 222 )
Saturday 15 October 1808 [58
I am glad you can say what you do of Mrs. Knight
and of Goodnestone in general ; it is a great relief to
me to know that the shock did not make any of them
ill. But what a task was yours to announce it ! Now
I hope you are not overpowered with letter-writing,
as Henry and John can ease you of many of your
correspondents.
Was Mr. Scudamore in the house at the time, was
any application attempted, and is the seizure at all
accounted for ?
Sunday . — As Edward’s letter to his son is not come
here, we know that you must have been informed as
early as Friday of the boys being at Steventon, which
I am glad of.
Upon your letter to Dr. Goddard’s being forwarded
to them, Mary wrote to ask whether my mother wished
to have her grandsons sent to her. We decided on
their remaining where they were, which I hope my
brother will approve of. I am sure he will do us the
justice of believing that in such a decision we sacrificed
inclination to what we thought best.
I shall write by the coach to-morrow to Mrs. J. A.,
and to Edward, about their mourning, though this
day’s post will probably bring directions to them on
that subject from yourselves. I shall certainly make
use of the opportunity of addressing our nephew on
the most serious of all concerns, as I naturally did in
my letter to him before. The poor boys are, perhaps,
more comfortable at Steventon than they could behere,
but you will understand my feelings with respect to it.
To -morrow will be a dreadful day for you all. Mr.
Whitfield’s will be a severe duty. Glad shall I be to
hear that it is over.
( 223 )
58] From Southampton to Godmersham
That you are for ever in our thoughts you will not
doubt. I see your mournful party in my mind’s eye
under every varying circumstance of the day i and
in the evening especially figure to myself its sad
gloom : the efforts to talk, the frequent summons to
melancholy orders and cares, and poor Edward, rest-
less in misery, going from one room to the other, and
perhaps not seldom upstairs, to see all that remains
of his Elizabeth. Dearest Fanny must now look upon
herself as his prime source of comfort, his dearest
friend ; as the being who is gradually to supply to
him, to the extent that is possible, what he has lost.
This consideration will elevate and cheer her.
Adieu. You cannot write too often, as I said before.
We are heartily rejoiced that the poor baby gives you
no particular anxiety. Kiss dear Lizzy for us. Tell
Fanny that I shall write in a day or two to Miss
Sharpe.
My mother is not ill.
Y ours most truly, J . Austen
Tell Henry that a hamper of apples is gone to him
from Kintbury, and that Mr. Fowle intended writing
on Friday (supposing him in London) to beg that the
charts, &c., may be consigned to the care of the
Palmers. Mrs. Fowle has also written to Miss Palmer
to beg she will send for them.
( 224 )
Monday 24 October 1808
[59
59. To Cassandra Austen. Monday 24 Oct. <1808)
Address (Brabourne) : Miss Austen, Edward Austen Esq. | God-
mersham Park, Fa vers ham, Kent
Original not traced.
Brabourne ii. 25 ; Life 210 (extracts);
Castle Square : Monday October 24
My dear Cassandra,
Edward and George came to us soon after seven on
Saturday, very well, but very cold, having by choice
travelled on the outside, and with no great coat but
what Mr. Wise, the coachman, good-naturedly spared
them of his, as they sat by his side. They were so
much chilled when they arrived, that I was afraid
they must have taken cold ; but it does not seem at
all the case ; I never saw them looking better.
They behave extremely well in every respect, show-
ing quite as much feeling as one wishes to see, and on
every occasion speaking of their father with the live-
liest affection. His letter was read over by each of
them yesterday, and with many tears ; George sobbed
aloud, Edward’s tears do not flow so easily ; but as
far as I can judge they are both very properly im-
pressed by what has happened. Miss Lloyd, who is
a more impartial judge than I can be, is exceedingly
pleased with them.
George is almost a new acquaintance to me, and
I find him in a different way as engaging as Edward.
We do not want amusement : bilbocatch, at which
George is indefatigable, spillikins, paper ships, riddles,
conundrums, and cards, with watching the flow and
ebb of the river, and now and then a stroll out, keep
us well employed ; and we mean to avail ourselves
( 225 ) q
59] From Southampton to Godmersham
of our kind papa’s consideration, by not returning to
Winchester till quite the evening of Wednesday.
Mrs. J. A. had not time to get them more than one
suit of clothes ; their others are making here, and
though I do not believe Southampton is famous for
tailoring, I hope it will prove itself better than Basing-
stoke. Edward has an old black coat, which will save
his having a second new one ; but I find that black
pantaloons are considered by them as necessary, and
of course one would not have them made uncomfort-
able by the want of what is usual on such occasions.
Fanny’s letter was received with great pleasure
yesterday, and her brother sends his thanks and will
answer it soon. We all saw what she wrote, and were
very much pleased with it.
To-morrow I hope to hear from you, and to-morrow
we must think of poor Catherine. To-day Lady
Bridges is the heroine of our thoughts, and glad shall
we be when we can fancy the meeting over. There
will then be nothing so very bad for Edward to
undergo.
The ‘ St. Albans,’ I find, sailed on the very day of
my letters reaching Yarmouth, so that we must not
expect an answer at present ; we scarcely feel, how-
ever, to be in suspense, or only enough to keep our
plans to ourselves. We have been obliged to explain
them to our young visitors, in consequence of Fanny’s
letter, but we have not yet mentioned them to
Steventon. We are all quite familiarised to the idea
ourselves ; my mother only wants Mrs. Seward to go
out at Midsummer.
What sort of a kitchen garden is there ? Mrs. J . A.
expresses her fear of our settling in Kent, and, till this
( 226 )
Monday 24 October 1808 [59
proposal was made, we began to look forward to it
here ; my mother was actually talking of a house at
Wye. It will be best, however, as it is.
Anne has just given her mistress warning ; she is
going to be married ; I wish she would stay her year.
On the subject of matrimony, I must notice a
wedding in the Salisbury paper, which has amused me
very much, Dr. Phillot to Lady Frances St. Lawrence.
She wanted to have a husband I suppose, once in her
life, and he a Lady Frances.
I hope your sorrowing party were at church yester-
day, and have no longer that to dread. Martha was
kept at home by a cold, but I went with my two nephews,
and I saw Edward was much affected by the sermon,
which, indeed, I could have supposed purposely addressed
to the afflicted, if the text had not naturally come in
the course of Dr. Mant’s observations on the Litany :
‘ All that are in danger, necessity, or tribulation,’ was
the subject of it. The weather did not allow us after-
wards to get farther than the quay, where George
was very happy as long as we could stay, flying about
from one side to the other, and skipping on board a
collier immediately.
In the evening we had the Psalms and Lessons, and
a sermon at home, to which they were very attentive ;
but you will not expect to hear that they did not
return to conundrums the moment it was over. Their
aunt has written pleasantly of them, which was more
than I hoped.
While I write now, George is most industriously
making and naming paper ships, at which he after-
wards shoots with horse-chestnuts, brought from
Steventon on purpose ; and Edward equally intent
( 227 )
59] From Southampton to Godmersham
over the ‘ Lake of Killarney,’ twisting himself about
in one of our great chairs.
Tuesday . — Your close- written letter makes me quite
ashamed of my wide lines ; you have sent me a great
deal of matter, most of it very welcome. As to your
lengthened stay, it is no more than I expected, and
what must be, but you cannot suppose I like it.
All that you say of Edward is truly comfortable ;
I began to fear that when the bustle of the first week
was over, his spirits might for a time be more de-
pressed j and perhaps one must still expect something
of the kind. If you escape a bilious attack, I shall
wonder almost as much as rejoice. I am glad you
mentioned where Catherine goes to-day ; it is a good
plan, but sensible people may generally be trusted to
form such.
The day began cheerfully, but it is not likely to
continue what it should, for them or for us. We had
a little water patty yesterday ; I and my two nephews
went from the Itchen Ferry up to N ortham, where we
landed, looked into the 74, and walked home, and it
was so much enjoyed that I had intended to take
them to Netley to-day ; the tide is just right for our
going immediately after noonshine, but I am afraid
there will be rain ; if we cannot get so far, however,
we may perhaps go round from the ferry to the quay.
I had not proposed doing more than cross the Itchen
yesterday, but it proved so pleasant, and so much to
the satisfaction of all, that when we reached the
middle of the stream we agreed to be rowed up the
river ; both the boys rowed great part of the way,
and their questions and remarks, as well as their
enjoyment, were very amusing ; George’s enquiries
Monday 24 October 1808 [59
were endless, and his eagerness in everything reminds
me often of his Uncle Henry.
Our evening was equally agreeable in its way : I
introduced speculation, and it was so much approved
that we hardly knew how to leave off.
Your idea of an early dinner to-morrow is exactly
what we propose, for, after writing the first part of
this letter, it came into my head that at this time of
year we have not summer evenings. We shall watch
the light to-day, that we may not give them a dark
drive to-morrow.
They send their best love to papa and everybody,
with George’s thanks for the letter brought by this
post. Martha begs my brother may be assured of her
interest in everything relating to him and his family,
and of her sincerely partaking our pleasure in the
receipt of every good account from Godmersham.
Of Chawton I think I can have nothing more to say,
but that everything you say about it in the letter now
before me will, I am sure, as soon as I am able to read
it to her, make my mother consider the plan with
more and more pleasure. We had formed the same
views on H. Digweed’s farm.
A very kind and feeling letter is arrived to-day
from Kintbury. Mrs. F owle’s sympathy and solicitude
on such an occasion you will be able to do justice to,
and to express it as she wishes to my brother. Con-
cerning you, she says : ‘ Cassandra will, I know, excuse
my writing to her ; it is not to save myself but her
that I omit so doing. Give my best, my kindest love
to her, and tell her I feel for her as I know she would
for me on the same occasion, and that I most sincerely
hope her health will not suffer.’
( 229 )
59] From Southampton to Godmersham
We have just had two hampers of apples from
Kintbury, and the floor of our little garret is almost
covered. Love to all.
Yours very affectionately, J. A.
60. To Cassandra Austen. Sunday 20 Nov. <1808)
Address : Miss Austen | Edw: Austen’s Esq* | Godmersham Park |
Faversham | Kent
Postmarks : Southampton and nov 21 (year illegible)
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabourne ii. 32 ; Life 219 (extracts).
Castle Square, Sunday Nov r 21 (sic ). —
Your letter my dear Cassandra, obliges me to write
immediately, that you may have the earliest notice of
Frank’s intending if possible to go to Godmersham
exactly at the time now fixed for your visit to Goodne-
stone. He resolved almost directly on the receipt of
your former Letter, to try for an extension of his
Leave of absence that he might be able to go down
to you for two days, but charged me not to give you
any notice of it, on account of the uncertainty of
success ; — Now however, I must give it, & now per-
haps he may be giving it himself — for I am just in the
hateful predicament of being obliged to write what
I know will somehow or other be of no use. He
meant to ask for five days more, & if they were
granted, to go down by Thursday-night’s Mail & spend
friday & Saturday with you; — & he considered his
chance of succeeding by no means bad.— I hope it
will take place as he planned, & that your arrange-
ments with Goodnestone may admit of suitable altera-
tion.— Your news of Edw: Bridges was quite news, for
( 230)
Sunday 20 November 1808 [60
I have had no letter from Wrotham.— I wish him
happy with all my heart, & hope his choice may turn
out according to his own expectations, & beyond those
of his Family — and I dare say it will. Marriage is
a great Improver — & in a similar situation Harriet
may be as amiable as Eleanor. — As to Money, that
will come you may be sure, because they cannot do
without it. — When you see him again, pray give him
our Congratulations & best wishes. — This Match will
certainly set John & Lucy going. — There are six Bed-
chambers at Chawton ; Henry wrote to my Mother
the other day, & luckily mentioned the number —
which is just what we wanted to be assured of. He
speaks also of Garrets for store-places, one of which
she immediately planned fitting up for Edward’s Man-
servant — & now perhaps it must be for our own — for
she is already quite reconciled to our keeping one.
The difficulty of doing without one, had been thought
of before. — His name shall be Robert, if you please. —
Before I can tell you of it, you will have heard that
Miss Sawbridge is married. It took place I beleive
on Thursday, Mrs. Fowle has for some time been in the
secret, but the Neighbourhood in general were quite
unsuspicious. Mr. Maxwell was tutor to the young
Gregorys — consequently they must be one of the
happiest Couple in the World, & either of them worthy
of Envy — for she must be excessively in love, and he
mounts from nothing, to a comfortable Home.—
Martha has heard him very highly spoken of. — They
continue for the present at Speen Hill.— I have a
Southampton Match to return for your Kentish one,
Capt. G. Heathcote & Miss A. Lyell ; I have it from
Alethea — & like it, because I had made it before.
( 231 )
60] From Southampton to Godmersham
Yes, the Stoneleigh business is concluded, but it was
not till yesterday that my Mother was regularly
informed of it, tho’ the news had reached us on
Monday Even 8 by way of Steventon. My Aunt says
as little as may be on the subject by way of informa-
tion, & nothing at all by way of satisfaction. She
reflects on Mr. T. Leigh’s dilatoriness, & looks about
with great diligence & success for Inconvenience &
Evil — among which she ingeniously places the danger
of her new Housemaids catching cold on the outside
of the Coach, when she goes down to Bath — for a car-
riage makes her sick. — John Binns has been offered
their place, but declines it — as she supposes, because
he will not wear a Livery. — Whatever be the cause,
I like the effect. — In spite of all my Mother’s long and
intimate knowledge of the Writer, she was not up to
the expectation of such a Letter as this ; the discon-
tentedness of it shocked & surprised her — but I see
nothing in it out of Nature — tho’ a sad nature.
She does not forget to wish for Chambers, you may
be sure. — No particulars are given, not a word of
arrears mentioned — tho’ in her letter to James they
were in a general way spoken of. The amount of them
is a matter of conjecture, & to my Mother a most
interesting one ; she cannot fix any time for their
beginning, with any satisfaction to herself, but Mrs.
Leigh’s death— & Henry’s two Thousand pounds
neither agrees with that period nor any other. — I did
not like to own, our previous information of what was
intended last July — & have therefore only said that
if we could see Henry we might hear many particulars,
as I had understood that some confidential conversa-
tion had passed between him & Mr. T. L. at Stone-
( 232 )
Sunday 20 November 1808 [60
leigh. We have been as quiet as usual since Frank &
Mary left us ; — Mr. Criswick called on Martha that
very morn* in his way home again from Portsmouth,
& we have had no visitor since. — We called on the
Miss Lyells one day, & heard a good account of Mr.
Heathcote’s canvass, the success of which of course
exceeds his expectation. — Alethea in her Letter hopes
for my interest, which I conclude means Edward’s — &
I take this opportunity therefore of requesting that
he will bring in Mr. Heathcote. — Mr. Lance told us
yesterday that Mr. H. had behaved very handsomely
& waited on Mr. Thistlethwaite to say that if he
(Mr. T.) would stand, he (Mr. H.) would not oppose
him ; but Mr. T. declined it, acknowledging himself
still smarting under the payment of late Electioneering
costs. — The Mrs. Hulberts, we learn from Kintbury,
come to Steventon this week, & bring Mary Jane
Fowle with them, in her way to Mrs. Nunes ; — she
returns at Christmas with her Brother. — Our Brother
we may perhaps see in the course of a few days— & we
mean to take the opportunity of his help, to go one
night to the play. Martha ought to see the inside of
the Theatre once while she lives in Southampton, &
I think she will hardly wish to take a second veiw. —
The Furniture of Bellevue is to be sold tomorrow, &
we shall take it in our usual walk if the Weather be
favourable. How could you have a wet day on
Thursday ? — with us it was a Prince of days, the most
delightful we have had for weeks, soft, bright, with
a brisk wind from the south west ; — everybody was
out & talking of spring — & Martha and I did not know
how to turn back. — on Friday Even* we had some
very blowing weather — from 6 to 9, 1 think we never
( 233 )
60] From Southampton to Godmersham
heard it worse, even here. — And one night we had so
much rain that it forced it’s way again into the store
closet— & tho’ the Evil was comparatively slight, &
the Mischief nothing, I had some employment the
next day in drying parcels &c. I have now moved
still more out of the way. —
Martha sends her best Love, & thanks you for
admitting her to the knowledge of the pros & cons
about Harriet Foote — she has an interest in all such
matters.— I am also to say that she wants to see you.
— Mary Jane missed her papa & mama a good deal at
first, but now does very well without them.-^-I am
glad to hear of little John’s being better ; — & hope
your accounts of Mrs. Knight will also improve. Adeiu.
Remember me affec t9,y to everybody, & beleive me
Ever yours, J A.
61. To Cassandra Austen. Friday 9 Dec. 1808
Address : Miss Austen | Edw: Austen’s Esq* | Godmersham Park |
Faversham | Kent
Postmark : dec 10 1808
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4". A piece cut away, 4 lines lost.
Brabourne ii. 38 ; Life 221 (extracts).
Castle Square, Friday Dec 1 9.
Many thanks my dear Cassandra, to you & Mr.
Deedes for your joint & agreable composition, which
took me by surprise this morning. He has certainly
great merit as a Writer, he does ample justice to his
subject, & without being diffuse, is clear & correct ;
& tho’ I do not mean to compare his Epistolary
powers with yours, or to give him the same portion
of my Gratitude, he certainly has a very pleasing way
( 234 )
Friday 9 December 1808 [61
of winding up a whole, & speeding Truth into the
world. — ‘ But all this, as my dear Mrs. Piozzi says,
is flight & fancy & nonsense — for my Master has his
great casks to mind, & I have my little Children ’ —
It is you however in this instance, that have the little
Children — & I that have the great cask — , for we are
brewing Spruce Beer again ; — but my meaning really
is, that I am extremely foolish in writing all this
unnecessary stuff, when I have so many matters to
write about, that my paper will hardly hold it all.
Little Matters they are to be sure, but highly impor-
tant. — In the first place, Miss Curling is actually at
Portsmouth — which I was always in hopes would not
happen. — I wish her no worse however than a long
& happy abode there. Here, she w^ probably be dull,
& I am sure she w d be troublesome. — The Bracelets
are in my possession, & everything I could wish them
to be. They came with Martha’s pelisse, which like-
wise gives great satisfaction. — Soon after I had closed
my last letter to you, we were visited by Mrs. Dickens
& her Sisterinlaw Mrs. Bertie, the wife of a lately made
Admiral ; — Mrs. F. A. I beleive was their first object—
but they put up with us very kindly, & Mrs. D.
finding in Miss Lloyd a friend of Mrs. Dundas had
another motive for the acquaintance. She seems a
really agreable Woman — that is, her manners are
gentle & she knows a great many of our Connections
in West Kent. — Mrs. Bertie lives in the Polygon, &
was out when we returned her visit — which are her
two virtues. —
A larger circle of acquaintance & an increase of
amusement is quite in character with our approaching
removal. — Yes — I mean to go to as many Balls as
( 235 )
61] From Southampton to Godmersham
possible, that I may have a good bargain. Everybody
is very much concerned at our going away, & every-
body is acquainted with Chawton & speaks of it as
a remarkably pretty village ; & everybody knows the
House we describe— but nobody fixes on the right.—
I am very much obliged to Mrs. Knight for such a
proof of the interest she takes in me — & she may
depend upon it, that I will marry Mr. Papillon, what-
ever may be his reluctance or my own. — I owe her
much more than such a trifling sacrifice.— Our Ball
was rather more amusing than I expected, Martha
liked it very much, & I did not gape till the last
quarter of an hour. — It was past nine before we were
sent for, & not twelve when we returned.— The room
was tolerably full, & there were perhaps thirty couple
of Dancers the melancholy part was, to see so many
dozen young Women standing by without partners,
& each of them with two ugly naked shoulders !— It
was the same room in which we danced 15 years ago !
—I thought it all over— & in spite of the shame of
being so much older, felt with thankfulness that I was
quite as happy now as then.— We paid an additional
shilling for our Tea, which we took as we chose in an
adjoining, & very comfortable room. — There were
only 4 dances, & it went to my heart that the Miss
Lances (one of them too named Emma !) should have
partners only for two.— You will not expect to hear
that I was asked to dance — but I was — by the
Gentleman whom we met that Sunday with Cap"
D’Auvergne. We have always kept up a bowing
acquaintance since, & being pleased with his black
eyes, I spoke to him at the Ball, which brought on me
this civility ; but I do not know his name— & he
( 236 )
Friday 9 December 1808 [61
seems so little at home in the English Language that
I beleive his black eyes may be the best of him. —
Capt. D’ Auvergne has got a ship. — Martha & I made
use of the very favourable state of yesterday for
walking, to pay our duty at Chiswell — we found Mrs.
Lance at home & alone, & sat out three other Ladies
who soon came in. — We went by the Ferry, & returned
by the Bridge, & were scarcely at all fatigued. —
Edward must have enjoyed the last two days ; — You, I
presume had a cool drive to Canterbury. Kitty Foote
came on Wednesday, & her Even* visit began early
enough for the last part, the apple pye of our dinner,
for we never dine now till five. — Yesterday I, or rather
you had a letter from Nanny Hilliard, the object of
which is that she w d be very much obliged to us if we
w d get Hannah a place. — I am sorry that I cannot
assist her ; — if you can, let me know, as I shall not
answer the letter immediately. Mr. Sloper is married
again, not much to Nanny’s, or anybody’s satis-
faction ; — the Lady was Governess to Sir Robert’s
natural Children, & seems to have nothing to recom-
mend her. — I do not find however that Nanny is
likely to lose her place in consequence. — She says not
a word of what service she wishes for Hannah, or what
Hannah can do — but a Nursery I suppose, or some-
thing of that kind, must be the Thing. — Having now
cleared away my smaller articles of news, I come to
a communication of some weight — no less than that
my Uncle & Aunt are going to allow James £100.
a year. We hear of it through Steventon ; — Mary
sent us the other day an extract from my Aunt’s letter
on the subject — in which the Donation is made with
the greatest kindness, & intended as a Compensation
(287 )
61] From Southampton to Godmersham
for his loss in the Conscientious refusal of Hampstead
Living — £100. a year being all that he had at the time
called its worth — as I find it was always intended at
Steventon to divide the real Income with Kintbury. —
Nothing can be more affectionate than my Aunt’s
Language in making the present, & likewise in express-
ing her hope of their being much more together in
future, than to her great regret, they have of late
years been. — My Expectations for my Mother do not
rise with this Event. We will allow a little more time
however, before we fly out. — If not prevented by
Parish Business, James comes to us on Monday.
The Mrs. Hulberts & Miss Murden are their Guests at
present, & likely to continue such till Christmas. —
Anna comes home on y® 19 tt . The Hundred a year
begins next Ladyday. — I am glad you are to have
Henry with you again ; with him & the Boys, you
cannot but have a chearful, & at times even a merry
Christmas. — Martha is so (Two lines cut out )
We want to be settled at Chawton in time for Henry
to come to us for some shooting, in October at least ; —
but a little earlier, & Edward may visit us after taking
his boys back to Winchester ; — suppose we name the
4 th of Sept* — will not that do ? — I have but one thing
more to tell you. Mrs. Hill called on my Mother
yesterday while we were gone to Chiswell — & in the
course of the visit asked her whether she knew any-
thing of a Clergyman’s family of the name of Alford
who had resided in our part of Hampshire. — Mrs. Hill
had been applied to, as likely to give some information
of them on account of their probable vicinity to Dr.
Hill’s Living— by a Lady, or for a Lady, who had
( 288 )
Friday 9 December 1808 [61
known Mrs. & the two Miss Alfords in Bath, whither
they had removed it seems from Hampshire— & who
now wishes to convey to the Miss Alfords some work,
or trimming, which she has been doing for them — but
the Mother & Daughters have left Bath, & the Lady
cannot learn where they are gone to. — While my
Mother gave us the account, the probability of its
being ourselves, occurred to us, and it had previously
struck herself (Two lines cut out )
likely — & even indispensably to be us, is that she
mentioned Mr. Hammond as now having the Living
or Curacy, which the Father had had. — I cannot think
who our kind Lady can be — but I dare say we shall
not like the work. —
Distribute the affec* 6 Love of a Heart not so tired
as the right hand belonging to it.—
Yours Ever Sincerely J A.
62. To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday 27 Dec. <1808)
Address (Brabourne) ; Miss Austen, Edward Austen’s, Esq. | God*
mersham Park, Faversham, Kent
Original not traced.
Brabourne ii. 40 ; Life 223 (extracts).
Castle Square : Tuesday December 27
My dear Cassandra,
I can now write at leisure and make the most of my
subjects, which is lucky, as they are not numerous
this week.
Our house was cleared by half-past eleven on Satur-
day, and we had the satisfaction of hearing yesterday
that the party reached home in safety soon after five.
( 239 )
62] From Southampton to Godmersham
I was very glad of your letter this morning, for,
my mother taking medicine, Eliza keeping her bed
with a cold, and Choles not coming, made us rather
dull and dependent on the post. You tell me much
that gives me pleasure, but I think not much to
answer. I wish I could help you in your needlework.
I have two hands and a new thimble that lead a very
easy life.
Lady Sondes’ match surprises, but does not offend
me ; had her first marriage been of affection, or had
there been a grown-up single daughter, I should not
have forgiven her; but I consider everybody as
having a right to marry once in their lives for love,
if they can, and provided she will now leave off having
bad headaches and being pathetic, I can allow her,
I can wish her, to be happy.
Do not imagine that your picture of your tite-d-tSte
with Sir B. makes any change in our expectations
here ; he could not be really reading, though he held
the newspaper in his hand ; he was making up his
mind to the deed, and the manner of it. I think you
will have a letter from him soon.
I heard from Portsmouth yesterday, and as I am
to send them more clothes, they cannot be expecting
a very early return to us. Mary’s face is pretty well,
but she must have suffered a great deal with it ; an
abscess was formed and opened.
Our evening party on Thursday produced nothing
more remarkable than Miss Murden’s coming too,
though she had declined it absolutely in the morning,
and sitting very ungracious and very silent with us
from seven o’clock till half after eleven, for so late was
it, owing to the chairmen, before we got rid of them.
( 240 )
Tuesday 27 December 1808 [62
The last hour, spent in yawning and shivering in
a wide circle round the fire, was dull enough, but the
tray had admirable success. The widgeon and the
preserved ginger were as delicious as one could wish.
But as to our black butter, do not decoy anybody to
Southampton by such a lure, for it is all gone. The
first pot was opened when Frank and Mary were here,
and proved not at all what it ought to be ; it was
neither solid nor entirely sweet, and on seeing it Eliza
remembered that Miss Austen had said she did not
think it had been boiled enough. It was made, you
know, when we were absent. Such being the event
of the first pot, I would not save the second, and we
therefore ate it in unpretending privacy ; and though
not what it ought to be, part of it was very good.
James means to keep three horses on this increase
of income ; at present he has but one. Mary wishes
the other two to be fit to carry women, and in the
purchase of one Edward will probably be called upon
to fulfil his promise to his godson. We have now
pretty well ascertained James’s income to be eleven
hundred pounds, curate paid, which makes us very
happy — the ascertainment as well as the income.
Mary does not talk of the garden ; it may well be
a disagreeable subject to her, but her husband is per-
suaded that nothing is wanting to make the first new
one good but trenching, which is to be done by his own
servants and John Bond, by degrees, not at the
expense which trenching the other amounted to.
I was happy to hear, chiefly for Anna’s sake, that
a ball at Manydown was once more in agitation ; it is
called a child’s ball, and given by Mrs. Heathcote to
Wm. Such was its beginning at least, but it will
( 241 ) *
62] From Southampton to Godmersham
probably swell into something more. Edward was
invited during his stay at Manydown, and it is to
take place between this and Twelfth-day. Mrs.
Hulbert has taken Anna a pair of white shoes on the
occasion.
I forgot in my last to tell you that we hear, by way
of Kintbury and the Palmers, that they were all well
at Bermuda in the beginning of Nov.
Wednesday. — Yesterday must have been a day of
sad remembrance at Gm. I am glad it is over. We
spent Friday evening with our friends at the boarding-
house, and our curiosity was gratified by the sight of
their fellow-inmates, Mrs. Drew and Miss Hook, Mr.
Wynne and Mr. Fitzhugh ; the latter is brother to
Mrs. Lance, and very much the gentleman. He has
lived in that house more than twenty years, and, poor
man ! is so totally deaf that they say he could not
hear a cannon, were it fired close to him ; having no
cannon at hand to make the experiment, I took it for
granted, and talked to him a little with my fingers,
which was funny enough. I recommended him to
read Corinna.
Miss Hook is a well-behaved, genteelish woman ;
Mrs. Drew well behaved, without being at all genteel.
Mr. Wynne seems a chatty and rather familiar young
man. Miss Murden was quite a different creature this
last evening from what she had been before, owing to
her having with Martha’s help found a situation in
the morning, which bids very fair for comfort. When
she leaves Steventon, she comes to board and lodge
with Mrs. Hookey, the chemist — for there is no Mr.
Hookey. I cannot say that I am in any hurry for the
conclusion of her present visit, but I was truly glad to
( 242 )
Tuesday 27 December 1808 [62
see her comfortable in mind and spirits ; at her age,
perhaps, one may be as friendless oneself, and in
similar circumstances quite as captious.
My mother has been lately adding to her possessions
in plate — a whole tablespoon and a whole dessert-
spoon, and six whole teaspoons — which makes our
sideboard border on the magnificent. They were
mostly the produce of old or useless silver. I have
turned the 11s. in the list into 12s., and the card looks
all the better ; a silver tea-ladle is also added, which
will at least answer the purpose of making us some-
times think of John Warren.
I have laid Lady Sondes’ case before Martha, who
does not make the least objection to it, and is parti-
cularly pleased with the name of Montresor. I do not
agree with her there, but I like his rank very much,
and always affix the ideas of strong sense and highly
elegant manners to a general.
I must write to Charles next week. You may guess
in what extravagant terms of praise Earle Harwood
speaks of him. He is looked up to by everybody in
all America.
I shall not tell you anything more of Wm. Digweed’s
china, as your silence on the subject makes you un-
worthy of it. Mrs. H. Digweed looks forward with
great satisfaction to our being her neighbours. I
would have her enjoy the idea to the utmost, as
I suspect there will not be much in the reality. With
equal pleasure we anticipate an intimacy with her
husband’s bailiff and his wife, who live close by us, and
are said to be remarkably good sort of people.
Yes, yes, we will have a pianoforte, as good a one
as can be got for thirty guineas, and I will practise
( 243 )
62] From Southampton to Godmersham
country dances, that we may have some amusement
for our nephews and nieces, when we have the pleasure
of their company.
Martha sends her love to Henry, and tells him that
he will soon have a bill of Miss Chaplin’s, about 141,,
to pay on her account ; but the bill shall not be sent
in till his return to town. I hope he comes to you in
good health, and in spirits as good as a first return to
Godmersham can allow. With his nephews he will
force himself to be cheerful, till he really is so. Send
me some intelligence of Eliza ; it is a long while since
I have heard of her.
We have had snow on the ground here almost a
week ; it is now going, but Southampton must boast
no longer. We all send our love to Edward junior and
his brothers, and I hope Speculation is generally liked.
Fare you well.
Yours affectionately, J. Austen
My mother has not been out of doors this week,
but she keeps pretty well. We have received through
Bookham an indifferent account of your godmother.
63. To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday 10 Jan. <1809)
Address (Braboume) : Miss Austen, Edward Austen’s, Esq. | God-
mersham Park, Faversham, Kent
Maine Historical Society,
Braboume ii« 53 ; Life 224 (extracts),
Castle Square : Tuesday January 10
I am not surprised, my dear Cassandra, that you did
not find my last letter very full of matter, and I wish
Ims may not have the same deficiency ; but we are
doing nothing ourselves to write about, and I am
( 244 )
Tuesday 10 January 1809
therefore quite dependent upon the communications
of our friends, or my own wits.
This post brought me two interesting letters, yours
and one from Bookham, in answer to an enquiry of
mine about your good godmother, of whom we had
lately received a very alarming account from Paragon.
Miss Arnold was the informant there, and she spoke of
Mrs. E. L. having been very dangerously ill, and
attended by a physician from Oxford.
Your letter to Adlestrop may perhaps bring you
information from the spot, but in case it should not,
I must tell you that she is better ; though Dr. Bourne
cannot yet call her out of danger ; such was the case
last Wednesday, and Mrs. Cooke’s having had no later
account is a favourable sign. I am to hear again from
the latter next week, but not this, if everything goes
on well.
Her disorder is an inflammation on the lungs,
arising from a severe chill, taken in church last Sunday
three weeks ; her mind all pious composure, as may
be supposed. George Cooke was there when her
illness began ; his brother has now taken his place.
Her age and feebleness considered, one’s fears cannot
but preponderate, though her amendment has already
surpassed the expectation of the physician at the
beginning. I am sorry to add that Becky is laid up
with a complaint of the same kind.
I am very glad to have the time of your return at
all fixed ; we all rejoice in it, and it will not be later
than I had expected. I dare not hope that Mary and
Miss Curling may be detained at Portsmouth so long
or half so long ; but it would be worth twopence to
have it so.
( 245 )
63] From Southampton to Godmersham
The ‘ St. Albans ’ perhaps may soon be off to help
bring home what may remain by this time of our poor
army, whose state seems dreadfully critical. The
‘ Regency ’ seems to have been heard of only here ;
my most political correspondents make no mention of
it. Unlucky that I should have wasted so much
reflection on the subject.
I can now answer your question to my mother
more at large, and likewise more at small — with equal
perspicuity and minuteness ; for the very day of our
leaving Southampton is fixed ; and if the knowledge
is of no use to Edward, I am sure it will give him
pleasure. Easter Monday, April 3, is the day ; we
are to sleep that night at Alton, and be with our
friends at Bookham the next, if they are then at
home ; there we remain till the following Monday,
and on Tuesday, April 11, hope to be at Godmersham.
If the Cookes are absent, we shall finish our journey
on the 5th. These plans depend of course upon the
weather, but I hope there will be no settled cold to
delay us materially.
To make you amends for being at Bookham, it is in
contemplation to spend a few days at Barton Lodge
in our way out of Kent. The hint of such a visit is
most affectionately welcomed by Mrs. Birch, in one
of her odd pleasant letters lately, in which she speaks
of us with the usual distinguished kindness, declaring
that she shall not be at all satisfied unless a very hand-
some present is made us immediately from one quarter.
Fanny’s not coming with you is no more than we
expected, and as we have not the hope of a bed for her,
and shall see her so soon afterwards at Godmersham,
we cannot wish it otherwise.
( 246 )
Tuesday 10 January 1809 [63
William will be quite recovered, I trust, by the
time you receive this. What a comfort his cross-
stitch must have been ! Pray tell him that I should
like to see his work very much. I hope our answers
this morning have given satisfaction ; we had great
pleasure in Uncle Deedes’ packet ; and pray let
Marianne know, in private, that I think she is quite
right to work a rug for Uncle John’s coffee urn, and
that I am sure it must give great pleasure to herself
now, and to him when he receives it.
The preference of Brag over Speculation does not
greatly surprise me, I believe, because I feel the same
myself ; but it mortifies me deeply, because Specu-
lation was under my patronage ; and, after all, what
is there so delightful in a pair royal of Braggers ?
It is but three nines or three knaves, or a mixture of
them. When one comes to reason upon it, it cannot
stand its ground against Speculation — of which I hope
Edward is now convinced. Give my love to him
if he is.
The letter from Paragon before mentioned was
much like those which had preceded it, as to the
felicity of its writer. They found their house so dirty
and so damp that they were obliged to be a week at
an inn. John Binns had behaved most unhandsomely
and engaged himself elsewhere. They have a man,
however, on the same footing, which my aunt does
not like, and she finds both him and the new maid-
servant very, very inferior to Robert and Martha.
Whether they mean to have any other domestics does
not appear, nor whether they are to have a carriage
while they are in Bath.
The Holders are as usual, though I believe it is not
( 247 )
63] From Southampton to Godmersham
very usual for them to be happy, which they now are
at a great rate, in Hooper’s marriage. The Irvines
are not mentioned. The American lady improved
as we went on ; but still the same faults in part
recurred.
We are now in Margiana, and like it very well
indeed. We are just going to set off for Northumber-
land to be shut up in Widdrington Tower, where there
must be two or three sets of victims already immured
under a very fine villain.
Wednesday — Your report of Eliza’s health gives me
great pleasure, and the progress of the bank is a con-
stant source of satisfaction. With such increasing
profits, tell Henry that I hope he will not work poor
High-diddle so hard as he used to do.
Has your newspaper given a sad story of a Mrs.
Middleton, wife of a farmer in Yorkshire, her sister,
and servant, being almost frozen to death in the late
weather, her little child quite so? I hope this sister
is not our friend Miss Woodd, and I rather think her
brother-in-law had moved into Lincolnshire, but their
name and station accord too well. Mrs, M. and the
maid are said to be tolerably recovered, but the sister
is likely to lose the use of her limbs.
Charles’s rug will be finished to-day, and sent to-
morrow to Frank, to be consigned by him to Mr.
Turner’s care ; and I am going to send Marmion out
with it — very generous in me, I think.
As we have no letter from Adlestrop, we may
suppose the good woman was alive on Monday, but
I cannot help expecting bad news from thence or
Bookham in a few days. Do you continue quite
well?
( 248 )
Tuesday 10 January 1809 [68
Have you nothing to say of your little namesake ?
We join in love and many happy returns.
Yours affectionately, J. Austen
The Manydown ball was a smaller thing than I
expected, but it seems to have made Anna very happy.
At her age it would not have done for me.
64. To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday 17 Jan. 1809
Address : Miss Austen | Edw d Austen’s Esq r | Godmersham Park
Faversham | Kent
Postmarks : Southampton and jan 19 1809
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Braboume ii. 59 ; Life 226 (extracts). Two sentences unpublished.
Castle Square, Tuesday Jan y 17.
My dear Cassandra
I am happy to say that we had no second Letter
from Bookham last week. Yours has brought its
usual measure of satisfaction and amusement, and
I beg your acceptance of all the Thanks due on the
occasion. — Your offer of Cravats is very kind, and
happens to be particularly adapted to my wants — but
it was an odd thing to occur to you. Yes — we have
got another fall of snow, and are very dreadful ;
everything seems to turn to snow this winter. — I hope
you have had no more illness among you, and that
William will be soon as well as ever. His working a
footstool for Chawton is a most agreable surprise to
me, and I am sure his Grandmama will value it very
much as a proof of his affection and Industry — but
we shall never have the heart to put our feet upon it. —
I beleive I must work a muslin cover in sattin stitch,
to keep it from the dirt.— I long to know what his
( 249 )
64] From Southampton to Godmersham
colours are — I guess greens and purples. — Edw d and
Henry have started a difficulty respecting our Journey,
which I must own with some confusion, had never
been thought of by us ; but if the former expected
by it, to prevent our travelling into Kent entirely he
will be disappointed, for we have already determined
to go the Croydon road, on leaving Bookham, and
sleep at Dartford. — Will not that do ? — There cer-
tainly does seem no convenient restingplace on the
other road— Anna went to Clanville last friday, and
I have hopes of her new Aunt’s being really worth her
knowing. — Perhaps you may never have heard that
James and Mary paid a morn* visit there in form some
weeks ago, and Mary tho’ by no means disposed to
like her, was very much pleased with her indeed.
Her praise to be sure, proves nothing more than Mrs.
M.’s being civil and attentive to them, but her being
so is in favour of her having good sense. — Mary writes
of Anna as improved in person, but gives her no other
commendation.— I am afraid her absence now may
deprive her of one pleasure, for that silly Mr. Hammond
is actually to give his Ball on friday.— We had some
reason to expect a visit from Earle Harwood and
James this week, but they do not come.— Miss Murden
arrived last night at Mrs. Hookey’s, as a message and
a basket announced to us— Y ou will therefore return
to an enlarged and of course improved society here,
especially as the Miss Williamses are come back— We
were agreably surprised the other day by a visit from
your Beauty and mine, each in a new Cloth Mantle
and Bonnet, and I daresay you will value yourself
much on the modest propriety of Miss W.’s taste, hers
being purple, and Miss Grace’s scarlet, I can easily
( 250 )
Tuesday 17 January 1809 [64
suppose that your six weeks here will be fully occupied,
were it only in lengthening the waist of your gowns.
I have pretty well arranged my spring and summer
plans of that kind, and mean to wear out my spotted
Muslin before I go. — You will exclaim at this — but
mine really has signs of feebleness, which with a little
care may come to something. — Martha and Dr. Mant
are as bad as ever ; he runs after her in the street to
apologise for having spoken to a Gentleman while she
was near him the day before. — Poor Mrs. Mant can
stand it no longer ; she is retired to one of her married
Daughters. — We hear through Kint bury that M”Esten
was unluckily to lie in at the same time with M r8 C. A. —
When William returns to Winchester Mary Jane
is to go to Mrs. Nunes for a month, and then to
Steventon for a fortnight, and it seems likely that she
and her Aunt Martha may travel into Berkshire
together. — We shall not have a Month of Martha after
your return — and that Month will be a very inter-
rupted and broken one ; — but we shall enjoy ourselves
the more, when we can get a quiet half hour together.
— To set against your new Novel of which nobody
ever heard before and perhaps never may again, We
have got Ida of A thens by Miss 0 wenson ; which
must be very clever, because it was written as the
Authoress says, in three months. — We have only read
the Preface yet ; but her Irish Girl does not make me
expect much. — If the warmth of her Language could
affect the Body it might be worth reading in this
weather. —
Adeiu — I must leave off to stir the fire and call on
Miss Murden.
Even a . I have done them both, the first very often.
(251)
64] From Southampton to Godmersham
We found our friend as comfortable, as she can
ever allow herself to be in cold weather there is
a very neat parlour behind the shop for her to sit in,
not very light indeed, being a la Southampton, the
middle of Three deep— but very lively, from the
frequent sound of the pestle and mortar.— We after-
wards called on the Miss Williamses, who lodge at
Dusautoys ; Miss Mary only was at home, and she is
in very indifferent health. — Dr. Hacket came in while
we were there, and said that he never remembered
such a severe winter as this, in Southampton before.
It is bad, but we do not suffer as we did last year,
because the wind has been more N.E. than N.W.
For a day or two last week, my Mother was very
poorly, with a return of one of her old complaints
but it did not last long, and seems to have left nothing
bad behind it.— She began to talk of a serious Illness,
her two last having been preceded by the same symp-
toms ; but— thank Heaven ! she is now quite as well
as one can expect her to be in Weather, which deprives
her of Exercise. —
Miss M. conveys to us a third volume of sermons
from HamstaU, just published ; and which we are to
like better than the two others they are professedly
practical, and for the use of country Congregations. -
I have just recieved some verses in an unknown an ,
and am desired to forward them to my nephew Edw*
at Godmersham.
“ Alas ! poor Brag, thou boastful Game !
What now avails thine empty name ?
Where now thy more distinguish’d fame ?
My day is o’er, and Thine the same.—
For thou like me art thrown aside.
At Godmersham, this Christmas Tide ;
( 252 )
[64
Tuesday 17 January 1809
And now across the Table wide,
Each Game save Brag or Spec: is tried.”—
“ Such is the mild Ejaculation,
Of tender hearted Speculation.”—
Wednesday . — I expected to have a Letter from
somebody to-day, but I have not. Twice every day,
I think of a Letter from Portsmouth.— Miss Murden
has been sitting with us this morn 8 — as yet she seems
very well pleased with her situation. The worst part
of her being in Southampton will be the necessity of
our walking with her now and then, for she talks so
loud that one is quite ashamed, but our Dining hours
are luckily very different, which we shall take all
reasonable advantage of. — M ra H y D. has been brought
to bed some time. I suppose we must stand to the next.
The Queen’s Birthday moves the Assembly to this
night, instead of last — and as it is always fully
attended, Martha and I expect an amusing shew.—
We were in hopes of being independant of other com-
panions by having the attendance of Mr. Austen and
Capt. Harwood, but, as they fail us, we are obliged
to look out for other help, and have fixed on the
Wallops as least likely to be troublesome.— I have
called on them this morn g and found them very
willing ; — and I am sorry that you must wait a whole
week for the particulars of the Even 8 . — I propose
being asked to dance by our acquaintance Mr. Smith,
now Capt n Smith, who has lately re-appeared in
Southampton — but I shall decline it. — He saw Charles
last August.— What an alarming Bride Mrs. Col n
Tilson must have been. Such a parade is one of the
most immodest peices of Modesty that one can
imagine. To attract notice could have been her only
(253 )
64] From Southampton to Godmersham
wish. — It augurs ill for his family — it announces not
great sense, and therefore ensures boundless Influence.
— I hope Fanny’s visit is now taking place. — You
have said scarcely anything of her lately, but I trust
you are as good friends as ever. — Martha sends her
Love, and hopes to have the pleasure of seeing you
when you return to Southampton. You are to under-
stand this message, as being merely for the sake of
a Message, to oblige me. —
Y rs affec t8ly — J. Austen
Henry never sent his Love to me in your last — but
I send him Mine. —
65. To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday 24 Jan. 1809
Address : Miss Austen | Edw d Austen Esq r | Godmersham Park |
Faversham | Kent
Postmarks : Southampton and <ja>n 25 <18)09
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabourne ii* 60 ; Life 227 (extracts).
Castle Square, Tuesday Jan y 24.
My dear Cassandra
I will give you the indulgence of a letter on Thurs-
day this week, instead of Friday, but I do not require
you to write again before Sunday, provided I may
beleive you and your finger going on quite well.—
Take care of your precious self, do not work too hard,
remember that Aunt Cassandras are quite as scarce
as Miss Beverleys. — I had the happiness yesterday of a
letter from Charles, but I shall say as little about it as
possible, because I know that excruciating Henry will
have had a Letter likewise ; to make all my intelligence
valueless. — It was written at Bermuda on ye 7, & 10
( 254 )
Tuesday 24 January 1809 [65
of Dec r all well, and Fanny still only in expectation
of being otherwise. He had taken a small prize in his
late cruize ; a French schooner laden with Sugar, butBad
weather parted them, and she had not yet been heard
of ; — his cruize ended Dec* 1 st — My September Letter
was the latest he had recieved. — This day three weeks
you are to be in London, and I wish you better weather
— not but that you may have worse, for we have now
nothing but ceaseless snow or rai n and insufferable dirt
to complain of — no tempestuous winds, nor severity of
cold. Since I wrote last, we have had something of each,
but it is not genteel to rip up old greivances. — You
used me scandalously by not mentioning Ed . Cooper’s
sermons ; — I tell you everything, and it is unknown
the Mysteries you conceal from me. — And to add to
the rest you persevere in giving a final e to Invalid
thereby putting it out of one’s power to suppose Mrs.
E. Leigh even for a moment, a veteran Soldier. — She,
good Woman, is I hope destined for some further
placid enjoyment of her own Excellence in this World,
for her recovery advances exceedingly well. — I had
this pleasant news in a letter from Bookham last
Thursday, but as the letter was from Mary instead of
her Mother, you will guess her account was not equally
good from home. — Mrs. Cooke had been confined to
her bed some days by Illness, but was then better, and
Mary wrote in confidence of her continuing to mend.
I have desired to hear again soon. You rejoice me
by what you say of Fanny — I hope she will not turn
good-for-nothing this ever so long; — we thought of
and talked of her yesterday with sincere affection, and
wished her a long enjoyment of all the happiness to which
she seems born. — While she gives happiness to those
( 255 )
65] From Southampton to Godmersham
about her, she is pretty sure of her own share. — I am
gratified by her having pleasure in what I write — but
I wish the knowledge of my being exposed to her discern-
ing Criticism, may not hurt my stile, by inducing too
great a solicitude. I begin already to weigh my words
and sentences more than I did, and am looking about
for a sentiment, an illustration or a metaphor in every
corner of the room. Could my Ideas flow as fast as
the rain in the Store closet it would be charming.
We have been in two or three dreadful states within
the last week, from the melting of the snow &c. and
the contest between us and the Closet has now ended
in our defeat ; I have been obliged to move almost
everything out of it, and leave it to splash itself as it
likes.— You have by no means raised my curiosity
after Caleb ; — My disinclination for it before was
affected, but now it is real ; I do not like the Evangeli-
cals.— Of course I shall be delighted, when I read it,
like other people, but till I do I dislike it. I am
sorry my verses did not bring any return from Edward,
I was in hopes they might— but I suppose he does not
rate them high enough. — It might be partiality, but
they seemed to me purely classical— just like Homer
and Virgil, Ovid and Propria que Maribus.— I had
a nice, brotherly letter from Frank the other day,
which after an interval of nearly three weeks, was very
welcome. — No orders were come on friday, and none
were come yesterday, or we sh rt have heard to-day.
I had supposed Miss C. would share her Cousin s room
here, but a message in this Letter proves the Con-
trary ; — I will make the Garret as comfortable as I can,
but the possibilities of that apartment are not great.—
My Mother has been talking to Eliza about our future
( 256 )
Tuesday 24 January 1809 [65
home — and she, making no difficulty at all of the
sweetheart, is perfectly disposed to continue with us,
but till she has written home for Mother's approbation,
cannot quite decide. — Mother does not like to have her
so far off ; — at Chawton she will be nine or ten miles
nearer, which I hope will have its due influence — As
for Sally, she means to play John Binns with us, in her
anxiety to belong to our Household again. Hitherto,
she appears a very good Servant. — You depend upon
finding all your plants dead, I hope. — They look very
ill I understand. — Your silence on the subject of our
Ball, makes me suppose your Curiosity too great for
words. We were very well entertained, and could have
staid longer but for the arrival of my List shoes to
convey me home, and I did not like to keep them
waiting in the cold. The room was tolerably full, and
the Ball opened by Miss Glyn ; — the Miss Lances had
partners, Capt. D’auvergne’s friend appeared in regi-
mentals, Caroline Maitland had an officer to flirt with,
and Mr. John Harrison was deputed by Capt. Smith,
being himself absent, to ask me to dance. — Everything
went well you see, especially after we had tucked Mrs.
Lance’s neckhandkerf in behind, and fastened it with a
pin.— We had a very full and agreable account of Mr.
Hammond’s Ball, from Anna last night ; the same
fluent pen has sent similar information I know into
Kent. — She seems to have been as happy as one could
wish her — and the complacency of her Mama in doing
the Honours of the Even 8 must have made her pleasure
almost as great. — The Grandeur of the Meeting was
beyond my hopes. — I should like to have seen Anna’s
looks and performance — but that sad cropt head must
have injured the former. —
( 257 )
s
65] From Southampton to Godmersham
Martha pleases herself with beleiving that if I had
kept her counsel, you w<* never have heard of D r M.’s
late behaviour, as if the very slight manner in which
I mentioned it could have been all on which you found
your Judgement. — I do not endeavour to undeceive
her, because I wish her happy at all events, and know
how highly she prizes happiness of any kind. She is
moreover so full of kindness for us both, and sends you
in particular so many good wishes about your finger,
that I am willing to overlook a venial fault; and as
Dr. M. is a Clergyman their attachment, however
immoral, has a decorous air. — Adeiu, sweet You. —
This is greivous news from Spain. — It is well that
Dr. Moore was spared the knowledge of such a son’s
death. —
Y rB affec: ly J. Austen
Anna’s hand gets better and better, it begins to be
too good for any consequence.
We send best Love to dear little Lizzy and Marianne
in particular.
The Portsmouth paper gave a melancholy history
of a poor Mad Woman, escaped from Confinement,
who said her Husband and Daughter of the name of
Payne lived at Ashford in Kent. Do you own them ?
( 258 )
Monday 80 January 1809
[66
66. To Cassandra Austen. Monday 80 Jan. 1809
Address : Miss Austen | Edw d Austen's Esq r | Godmersham Park |
Faversham | Kent
Postmark : jan 31 1803
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabourne ii. 72 ; Life 228 (extracts).
Castle Square : Monday Jan y 80.
My dear Cassandra
I was not much surprised yesterday by the agreable
surprise of your letter, & extremely glad to receive the
assurance of your finger being well again. Here is
such a wet Day as never was seen ! — I wish the poor
little girls had better weather for their Journey ; they
must amuse themselves with watching the raindrops
down the Windows. Sackree I suppose feels quite
brokenhearted. — I cannot have done with the weather
without observing how delightfully mild it is ; I am
sure Fanny must enjoy it with us. — Yesterday was
a very blowing day ; we got to Church however, which
we had not been able to do for two Sundays before. —
I am not at all ashamed about the name of the Novel,
having been guilty of no insult towards your hand-
writing ; the Dipthong I always saw, but knowing how
fond you were of adding a vowel wherever you could,
I attributed it to that alone — & the knowledge of the
truth does the book no service ; the only merit it could
have, was in the name of Caleb, which has an honest,
unpretending sound ; but in Ccelebs, there is pedantry
& affectation. — Is it written only to Classical Scholars ?
— I shall now try to say only what is necessary, I am
weary of meandering — so expect a vast deal of small
matter concisely told, in the next two pages. — Mrs.
( 259 )
66] From Southampton to Godmersham
Cooke has been very dangerously ill, but is now I hope
safe— I had a letter last week from George, Mary being
too busy to write, & at that time the Disorder was
called of the Typhus kind, & their alarm considerable
— but yesterday brought me a much better account
from Mary ; the origin of the complaint beingnow ascer-
tained to be Billious, & the strong medicines requisite,
promising to be effectual. — Mrs. E. L. is so much
recovered as to get into the Dressing-room every day.
— A letter from Hamstall gives us the history of Sir
Tho. Williams’ return the Admiral, whoever he
might be, took a fancy to the Neptune, & having only
a worn out 74 to offer in lieu of it, Sir Tho. declined
such a command, & is come home Passenger. Lucky
Man ! to have so fair an opportunity of escape —
I hope His wife allows herself to be happy on the
occasion, & does not give all her thoughts to being
nervous. — A great event happens this week at Ham-
stall, in young Edward’s removal to school ; he is going
to Rugby & is very happy in the idea of it ; — I wish
his happiness may last, but it will be a great change,
to become a raw school boy from being a pompous
Sermon- Writer, & a domineering Brother.— It will do.
him good I dare say. — Caroline has had a great escape
from being burnt to death lately ;— as her husband
gives the account, we must beleive it true. — Miss
Murden is gone— called away by the critical state of
Mrs. Pottinger, who has had another severe stroke,
& is without Sense or Speech. Miss Murden wishes to
return to Southampton if circumstances suit, but it
must be very doubtful— We have been obliged to
turn away Cholles, he grew so very drunken & negli-
gent & we have a man in his place called Thomas.
( 260 )
Monday 80 January 1809 [66
Martha desires me to communicate something concern-
ing herself which she knows will give you pleasure, as
affording her very particular satisfaction ; it is, that she
is to be in Town this spring with Mrs. Dundas— I need
not dilate on the subject— you understand enough
of the whys & wherefores to enter into her feelings,
& to be conscious that of all possible arrangements,
it is the one most acceptable to her. — She goes to
Barton on leaving us — & the Family remove to Town
in April.— What you tell me of Miss Sharpe is quite
new, & surprises me a little ; — I feel however as you
do. She is born, poor thing ! to struggle with Evil—
& her continuing with Miss B. is I hope a proof that
Matters are not always so very bad between them as
her Letters sometimes represent. — Jenny’s marriage
I had heard of, & supposed you would do so too from
Steventon, as I knew you were corresponding with
Mary at the time. I hope she will not sully the
respectable name she now bears. — Your plan for Miss
Curling is uncommonly considerate & friendly, & such
as she must surely jump at. Edward’s going round
by Steventon, as I understand he promises to do, can
be no reasonable objection, Mrs. J. Austen’s hospitality
is just of the kind to enjoy such a visitor. — We were
very glad to know Aunt Fanny was in the Country
when we read of the Fire. — Pray give my best Comp ts
to the Mrs. Finches, if they are at G m .— I am sorry to
find that Sir J. Moore has a mother living, but tho’
a very Heroick son, he might not be a very necessary
one to her happiness. — Deacon Morrell may be more
to Mrs. Morrell. — I wish Sir John had united some-
thing of the Christian with the Hero in his death. —
Thank Heaven 1 we have had no one to care for
( 261 )
66] From Southampton to Godmersham
particularly among the Troops — no one in fact nearer
to us than Sir John himself. Col. Maitland is safe &
well ; his Mother & sisters were of course anxious
about him, but there is no entering much into the
solicitudes of that family. — My Mother is well, & gets
out when she can with the same enjoyment, & appar-
ently the same strength as hitherto. — She hopes you
will not omit begging Mrs. Seward to get the Garden
cropped for us — supposing she leaves the House too
early, to make the Garden any object to herself. — We
are very desirous of receiving your account of the
House — for your observations will have a motive which
can leave nothing to con j ecture & suffer nothing from
want of Memory. — For one’s own dear self, one ascer-
tains & remembers everything. — Lady Sondes is an
impudent Woman to come back into her old Neigh-
bourhood again ; I suppose she pretends never to
have married before — & wonders how her Father &
Mother came to have her christen’d Lady Sondes. —
The store closet I hope will never do so again — for
much of the Evil is proved to have proceeded from
the Gutter being choked up, & we have had it cleared.
— We had reason to rejoice in the Child’s absence at
the time of the Thaw, for the Nursery was not habit-
able. — We hear of similar disasters from almost every-
body. — No news from Portsmouth. We are very
patient. — Mrs. Charles Fowle desires to be kindly
remembered to you. She is warmly interested in my
Brother and his Family. —
Y rs very affec: ,y J. Austen
( 262 )
Wednesday 5 April 1809 [67
67. To Crosbie & Co. < Wednesday > 5 April 1809
No address or postmark.
British Museum (1925). Formerly in the collection described in
Times Literary Supplement 14 Jan. 1920. One leaf 4<>. Endorsed
* c 0 py of a Letter to Mess'* Crosbie & Co. & M' Crosbie’s reply ’.
Not autograph. Preserved with N° 67a.
Life 230.
Gentlemen
In the spring of the year 1803 a MS. Novel in 2 vol.
entitled Susan was sold to you by a Gentleman of the
name of Seymour, & the purchase money £10. rec d at
the same time. Six years have since passed, & this
work of which I am myself the Authoress, has never
to the best of my knowledge, appeared in print, tho’
an early publication was stipulated for at the time of
sale. I can only account for such an extraordinary
circumstance by supposing the MS. by some careless-
ness to have been lost ; & if that was the case, am
willing to supply you with another copy if you are
disposed to avail yourselves of it, & will engage for no
farther delay when it comes into your hands. It will
not be in my power from particular circumstances to
command this copy before the Month of August, but
then, if you accept my proposal, you may depend
on receiving it. Be so good as to send me a Line in
answer as soon as possible, as my stay in this place
will not exceed a few days. Should no notice be taken
of this address, I shall feel myself at liberty to secure
the publication of my work, by applying elsewhere.
I am Gentlemen &c. &c.
April 5. 1809. A>
Direct to M rs Ashton Dennis
Post Office, Southampton
(263 )
67a]
Saturday 8 April 1809
67a. From Richard Crosby. ( Saturday ) 8 April 1809
Address : M TB Ashton Dennis | Post Office | Southampton
Postmark : ap 10 1809
British Museum (1925). See N° 67. One leaf.
Life 231.
Madam
We have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 5th inst. It is true that at the time mentioned
we purchased of M r Seymour a MS. novel entitled
Susan and paid him for it the sum of 10£ for which
we have his stamped receipt as a full consideration,
but there was not any time stipulated for its publica-
tion, neither are we bound to publish it, Should you
or anyone else (sic) we shall take proceedings to stop
the sale. The MS. shall be yours for the same as we
paid for it
For R. Crosby & Co.
I am yours etc.
Richard Crosby
London
Ap 8 1809.
68. To Francis Austen. < Wednesday > 26 July 1809
Address : Capt n Austen RN.
Postmark : none*
Captain Ernest Austen R.N. 2 leaves 4°.
Unpublished.
Chawton, July 26. — 1809. —
My dearest Frank, I wish you joy
Of Mary’s safety with a Boy,
Whose birth has given little pain
Compared with that of Mary Jane. —
( 264)
[68
Wednesday 26 July 1809
May he a growing Blessing prove,
And well deserve his Parents’ Love ! —
Endow’d with Art’s & Nature’s Good,
Thy name possessing with thy Blood,
In him, in all his ways, may we
Another Francis William see !—
Thy infant days may he inherit,
Thy warmth, nay insolence of spirit ; —
We would not with one fault dispense
To weaken the resemblance.
May he revive thy Nursery sin,
Peeping as daringly within,
His curley Locks but just descried,
With, ‘ Bet, my be not come to bide.’ —
Fearless of danger, braving pain,
And threaten’d very oft in vain,
Still may one Terror daunt his soul,
One needful engine of Controul
Be found in this sublime array,
A neighbouring Donkey’s aweful Bray.
So may his equal faults as Child,
Produce Maturity as mild !
His saucy words & fiery ways
In early Childhood’s pettish days,
In Manhood, shew his Father’s mind
Like him, considerate & land ;
All Gentleness to those around,
And eager only not to wound.
Then like his Father too, he must,
To his own former struggles just,
Feel his Deserts with honest Glow,
And all his self-improvement know. —
( 265 )
68 ]
From Chawton to Francis Austen
A native fault may thus give birth
To the best blessing, conscious Worth. —
As for ourselves, we’re very well ;
As unaffected prose will tell. —
Cassandra’s pen will paint our state,
The many comforts that await
Our Chawton home, how much we find
Already in it, to our mind ;
And how convinced, that when complete
It will all other Houses beat
That ever have been made or mended,
With rooms concise, or rooms distended.
You’ll find us very snug next year,
Perhaps with Charles & Fanny near,
For now it often does delight us
To fancy them just over-right us. —
J. A
( 266 )
( 1 I A \ VT< IN Cl ITT A ( ; K
(The Times, 1 Jan. reproduced bp permission)
Thursday 18 April 1811
[69
69. To Cassandra Austen. Thursday 18 April 1811
Address : Miss Austen | Edw^ Austen’s Escj ro | Godmersham Park |
Faversham | Kent
Postmark : af 20 1811
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°. A piece cut away, 1 line lost.
Brabourne ii. 82 ; Life 244 (extracts).
Sloane St. Thursday April 18.
My dear Cassandra
I have so many little matters to tell you of, that
I cannot wait any longer before I begin to put them
down. — I spent tuesday in Bentinck S l ; the Cookes
called here & took me back ; & it was quite a Cooke
day, for the Miss Rolles paid a visit while I was there,
& Sam Arnold dropt in to tea. The badness of the
weather disconcerted an excellent plan of mine, that
of calling on Miss Beckford again, but from the middle
of the day it rained incessantly. Mary & I, after
disposing of her Father & Mother, went to the Liver-
pool Museum, & the British Gallery, & I had some
amusement at each, tho’ my preference for Men &
Women, always inclines me to attend more to the
company than the sight. — Mrs. Cooke regrets very
much that she did not see you when you called, it was
owing (to some) blunder among the servants, for she
did not know of our visit till we were gone.— She seems
tolerably well ; but the nervous part of her Com-
plaint I fear increases, & makes her more and more
unwilling to part with Mary. — I have proposed to the
latter that she should go to Chawton with me, on the
supposition of my travelling the Guildford road &
she, I do beleive, would be glad to do it, but perhaps
it mav be impossible ; unless a Brother can be at
(267)
69] From Sloane St. to Godmersham
home at that time, it certainly must. — George comes
to them to day. I did not see Theo’ till late on Tues-
day ; he was gone to Ilford, but he came back in time
to shew his usual, nothing-meaning, harmless, heart-
less Civility.— Henry, who had been confined the
whole day to the Bank, took me in his way home ;
& after putting Life & Wit into the party for a quarter
of an hour, put himself & his Sister into a Hackney
coach. — I bless my stars that I have done with tues-
day ! — But alas ! — Wednesday was likewise a day of
great doings, for Manon & I took our walk to Grafton
House, & I have a good deal to say on that subject. —
I am sorry to tell you that I am getting very extra-
vagant & spending all my Money ; & what is worse
for you , I have been spending yours too ; for in a
Linendraper’s shop to which I went for check’d
muslin, & for which I was obliged to give seven
shillings a yard, I was tempted by a pretty coloured
muslin, and bought 10 y* 18 of it, on the chance of your
liking it ; — but at the same time'if it sh d not suit you,
you must not think yourself at all obliged to take it ;
it is only 3/6 p r y d , & I sh d not in the least mind
keeping the whole. — In texture, it is just what we
prefer, but it’s resemblance to green cruels I must own
is not great, for the pattern is a small red spot. — < One
line cut out > & now I beleive I have done all my
commissions, except Wedgwood, I liked my walk
very much ; it was shorter than I had expected, &
the weather was delightful. We set off immediately
after breakfast & must have reached Grafton House
by \ past 11 — , but when we entered the Shop, the
whole Counter was thronged, & we waited full half
an hour before we c d be attended to. When we were
( 268 )
Thursday 18 April 1811 [69
served however, I was very well satisfied with my
purchases, my Bugle Trimming at 2/4 d & 3 p r silk
stock* 9 for a little less than 12. /s a p r — In my way
back, who sh d I meet but Mr. Moore, just come from
Beckenham. I beleive he would have passed me, if
I had not made him stop— but we were delighted to
meet. I soon found however that he had nothing
new to tell me, & then I let him go —Miss Burton has
made me a very pretty little Bonnet — & now nothing
can satisfy me but I must have a straw hat, of the
riding hat shape, like Mrs. Tilson’s ; & a young
woman in this Neighbourhood is actually making me
one. I am really very shocking ; but it will not be
dear at a Guinea. — Our Pelisses are 17/s. each — she
charges only 8 / for the making, but the Buttons seem
expensive ; — arc expensive, I might have said for the
fact is plain enough.— We drank tea again yesterday
with the Tilsons, & met the Smiths. — I find all these
little parties very pleasant. I like Mr. S. Miss Beaty
is good-humour itself, & does not seem much besides.
We spend tomorrow even* with them, & are to meet
the Col" & Mrs. Cantelo Smith, you have been used to
hear of ; & if she is in good humour, are likely to have
excellent singing. — To night I might have been at the
Play, Henry had kindly planned our going together
to the Lyceum, but I have a cold which I sh d not like
to make worse before Saturday so I stay within,
all this day.— Eliza is walking out by herself. She
has plenty of business on her hands just now — for the
day of the party is settled, & drawing near :— above
80 people are invited for next tuesday Even* & there
is to be some very good Music, 5 professionals, 3 of
them Glee singers, besides Amateurs. — Fanny will
( 269 )
69] From Shane St. to Godmersham
listen to this. One of the Hirelings, is a Capital on
the Harp, from which I expect great pleasure. — The
foundation of the party was a dinner to Henry
Egerton & Henry Walter — but the latter leaves Town
the day before. I am sorry — as I wished her pre-
judice to be done away — but sh d have been more
sorry if there had been no invitation. — I am a wretch,
to be so occupied with all these Things, as to seem to
have no Thoughts to give to people & circumstances
which really supply a far more lasting interest — the
Society in which You are — but I do think of you all
I assure you, & want to know all about everybody,
& especially about your visit to the W. Friars ; ‘ mais
le moyen ’ not to be occupied by one’s own concerns ? —
Saturday. — Frank is superseded in the Caledonia,
Henry brought us this news yesterday from Mr.
Daysh & — he heard at the same time that Charles
may be in England in the course of a month. — Sir
Edw d Pellew succeeds Lord Gambier in his command,
& some captain of his, succeeds Frank ; & I beleive
the order is already gone out. Henry means to
enquire farther to day ; — he wrote to Mary on the
occasion. — This is something to think of. — Henry is
convinced that he will have the offer of something
else, but does not think it will be at all incumbent on
him to accept it ; & then follows, what will he do ?
& where will he live ? — I hope to hear from you today.
How are you, as to Health, strength, Looks, stomach
See. ? — I had a very comfortable account from Chaw-
ton yesterday.— If the weather permits, Eliza & I
walk into London this morn*. She is in want of
chimney lights for Tuesday ; — & 1, of an ounce of
darning cotton. — She has resolved not to venture to
(270)
Thursday 18 April 1811 [69
the Play tonight. The D’Entraigues & Comte Julien
cannot come to the Party — which was at first a greif,
but she has since supplied herself so well with Per-
formers that it is of no consequence their not
coming has produced our going to them tomorrow
Even 8 — which I like the idea of. It will be amusing
to see the ways of a French circle. I. wrote to Mrs.
Hill a few days ago, & have received a most kind &
satisfactory answer ; my time, the first week in May,
exactly suits her ; & therefore I consider my Goings
as tolerably fixed. I shall leave Sloane St. on the
l«t or 2 d & be ready for James on ye 9 th ; — & if his
plan alters, I can take care of myself —I have ex-
plained my veiws here, & everything is smooth &
pleasant ; & Eliza talks kindly of conveying me to
Streatham— We met the Tilsons yesterday Even 8 —
but the singing Smiths sent an excuse— which put our
Mrs. Smith out of humour. —
We are come back, after a good dose of Walking &
Coaching, & I have the pleasure of your letter.— I wish
I had James’s verses, but they were left at Chawton.
When I return thither, if Mrs. K. will give me leave,
I will send them to her —Our first object to day was
Henrietta St. to consult with Henry, in consequence
of a very unlucky change of The play for this very
night— Hamlet instead of King John— & we are to
go on Monday to Macbeth, instead, but it is a disap-
pointment to us both.
Love to all.
Yours affec: ,T Jane
( 271 )
70]
From Sloane St. to Godmersham
70. To Cassandra Austen. Thursday 25 April (1811)
Address t Miss Austen 1 Edw d Austen’s Esq re | Godmersham Park |
Faversham
Postmark : ap 2< > <18)11
British Museum*
Brabourne ii. 89 ; Life 246 (extracts),
Sloane S‘ Thursday April 25
My dearest Cassandra
I can return the compliment by thanking you for
the unexpected pleasure of your Letter yesterday, &
as I like unexpected pleasure, it made me very happy ;
And indeed, you need not apologise for your Letter
in any respect, for it is all very fine, but not too fine
I hope to be written again, or something like it. I
think Edward will not suffer much longer from heat ;
by the look of Things this morn 8 1 suspect the weather
is rising into the balsamic Northeast. It has been
hot here, as you may suppose, since it was so hot
with you, but I have not suffered from it at all, nor
felt it in such a degree as to make me imagine it would
be anything in the country. Everybody has talked
of the heat, but I set it all down to London.— I give
you joy of our new nephew, & hope if he ever comes
to be hanged, it will not be till we are too old to care
about it. — It is a great comfort to have it so safely &
speedily over. The Miss Curlings must be hard
worked in writing so many Letters, but the novelty
of it may recommend it to them ; — mine was from
Miss Eliza, & she says that my Brother may arrive
today.— No indeed, I am never too busy to think of
S & S. I can no more forget it, than a mother can
forget her sucking child ; & I am much obliged to you
( 272 )
Thursday 25 April 1811 [70
for your enquiries. I have had two sheets to correct,
but the last only brings us to W.s first appearance.
M rB K. regrets in the most flattering manner that she
must wait till May, but I have scarcely a hope of its
being out in June. — Henry does not neglect it ; he has
hurried the Printer, & says he will see him again
today.— It will not stand still during his absence, it
will be sent to Eliza.— The Incomes remain as they
were, but I will get them altered if I can.— I am very
much gratified by M ra K.s interest in it ; & whatever
may be the event of it as to my credit with her,
sincerely wish her curiosity could be satisfied sooner
than is now probable. I think she will like my Elinor,
but cannot build on any thing else. Our party went
off extremely well. There were many solicitudes;
alarms & vexations beforehand of course, but at last
everything was quite right. The rooms were dressed
up with flowers &c, & looked very pretty.— A glass
for the Mantlepiece was lent, by the Man who is
making their own. — M r Egerton & M r Walter came at
1/2 past 5, & the festivities began with a p r of very fine
Soals. Yes, M r Walter— for he postponed his leaving
London on purpose— which did not give much pleasure
at the time, any more than the circumstance from
which it rose, his calling on Sunday & being asked by
Henry to take the family dinner on that day, which
he did— but it is all smooth’d over now & she likes
him very well— At 1/2 past 7 arrived the Musicians
in two Hackney coaches, & by 8 the lordly company
began to appear. Among the earliest were George &
Mary Cooke, & I spent the greatest part of the even 6
very pleasantly with them. The Diaw 6 room being
soon hotter than we liked, we placed ourselves in the
( 278 ) T
70] From Sloane St to Godmersham
connecting Passage, which was comparatively cool, &
gave us all the advantage of the Music at a pleasant
distance, as well as that of the first veiw of every new
comer. — I was quite surrounded by acquaintance,
especially Gentlemen ; & what with M r Hampson,
M r Seymour, M r W. Knatchbull, M r Guillemarde,
M r Cure, a Cap 4 Simpson, brother to the Cap 4 Simpson,
besides M r Walter & M r Egerton, in addition to the
Cookes & Miss Beckford & Miss Middleton, I had
quite as much upon my hands as I could do. — Poor
Miss B. has been suffering again from her old com-
plaint, & looks thinner than ever. She certainly goes
to Cheltenham the beginning of June. We were all
delight & cordiality of course. Miss M. seems very
happy, but has not beauty enough to figure in London.
— Including everybody we were 66 — which was con-
siderably more than Eliza had expected, & quite
enough to fill the Back Draw* room, & leave a few to
be scattered about in the other, & in the passage.
The Music was extremely good. It opened (tell
Fanny, with ‘ Poike pe Parp pin praise pof Prapela
& of the other Glees I remember, ‘ In Peace Love
tunes,’ ‘ Rosabelle,’ ‘ The red cross Knight,’ & ‘ Poor
Insect.’ Between the Songs were Lessons on the
Harp, or Harp & Piano Forte together — & the Harp
Player was Wiepart, whose name seems famous, tho’
new to me. — There was one female singer, a short
Miss Davis all in blue, bringing up for the Public Line,
whose voice was said to be very fine indeed ; & all
the Performers gave great satisfaction by doing what
they were paid for, & giving themselves no airs. — -No
amateur could be persuaded to do anything. — The
House was not clear till after 12. — If you wish to hear
( 274 )
Thursday 25 April 1811 [70
more of it, you must put your questions, but I seem
rather to have exhausted than spared the subject. —
This said Capt. Simpson told us, on the authority of
some other Capt n just arrived from Halifax, that
Charles was bringing the Cleopatra home, & that she
was probably by this time in the Channel — but as
Capt. S. was certainly in liquor, we must not quite
depend on it. — It must give one a sort of expectation
however, & will prevent my writing to him any more.
— I would rather he sh d not reach England till I am
at home, & the Steventon party gone. My Mother &
Martha both write with great satisfaction of Anna’s
behaviour. She is quite an Anna with variations —
but she cannot have reached her last, for that is
always the most flourishing & shewey — she is at about
her 3 d or 4 th which are generally simple & pretty. —
Your Lilacs are in leaf, oars are in bloom. — The Horse
chesnuts are quite out, & the Elms almost. — I had
a pleasant walk in Kensington G s on Sunday with
Henry, M r Smith & M r Tilson— everything was fresh
& beautiful. — We did go to the play after all on
Saturday, we went to the Lyceum, & saw the Hypo-
crite, an old play taken from Moliere’s Tartujfe, &
were well entertained. Dowton & Mathews were the
good actors. Mrs Edwin was the Heroine — & her
performance is just what it used to be. — I have no
chance of seeing M r8 Siddons. — She did act on Monday,
but as Henry was told by the Boxkeeper that he did
not think she would, the places, & all thought of it,
were given up. I should particularly have liked seeing
her in Constance, & could swear at her with little
effort for disappointing me.— Henry has been to the
Watercolour Exhibition, which open’d on Monday,
( 275 )
70] From Shane St. to Godmersham
& is to meet us there again some morn*. — If Eliza
cannot go — (& she has a cold at present) Miss Beaty
will be invited to be my companion. — Henry leaves
Town on Sunday afternoon — but he means to write
soon himself to Edward — & will tell his own plans.—
The Tea is this moment setting out.— Do not have
your col d muslin unless you really want it, because
I am afraid I c d not send it to the Coach without
giving trouble here. — Eliza caught her cold on Sunday
in our way to the D’Entraigues ; — the Horses actually
gibbed on this side of Hyde Park Gate— a load of
fresh gravel made it a formidable Hill to them, and
they refused the collar ; — I believe there was a sore
shoulder to irritate. — Eliza was frightened, & we got
out — & were detained in the Even* air several minutes.
— The cold is in her chest — but she takes care of her-
self, & I hope it may not last long.— This engagement
prevented M r Walter’s staying late — he had his coffee
& went away.— Eliza enjoyed her even* very much
& means to cultivate the acquaintance— & I see
nothing to dislike in them, but their taking quantities
of snuff— Monsieur the old Count, is a very fine
looking man, with quiet manners, good enough for an
Englishman — & I believe is a Man of great Informa-
tion & Taste. He has some fine Paintings, which
delighted Henry as much as the Son’s music gratified
Eliza— & among them, a Miniature of Philip 5. of
Spain, Louis 14.s Grandson, which exactly suited my
capacity. — Count Julien’s performance is very won-
derful. We met only M" Latouche & Miss East — &
we are just now engaged to spend next Sunday Even*
at M rs L.s — & to meet the D’Entraigues but M. le
Comte must do without Henry. If he w d but speak
( 276 )
Thursday 25 April 1811 [70
english, I would take to him —Have you ever men-
tioned the leaving off Tea to M rs K. ?— Eliza has just
spoken of it again. — The Benefit she has found from
it in sleeping, has been very great— I shall write soon
to Catherine to fix my day, which will be Thursday.—
We have no engagements but for Sunday. Eliza s
cold makes quiet adviseable.— Her party is mentioned
in this morning’s paper. I am sorry to hear of poor
Fanny’s state.— From that quarter I suppose is to be
the alloy of her happiness. — I will have no more to
say. —
Y rB affec ly
J. A.
Give my Love particularly to my God-daughter.
71. To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday <30 April 1811)
Address : none. The letter was no doubt enclosed in another, see the
first paragraph.
Postmark : none. The date is fixed by the allusion to No. 70.
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabourne ii. 87 ; Life 251 (extracts).
Sloane S‘ Tuesday.
My dear Cassandra
I had sent off my Letter yesterday before yours
came, which I was sorry for ; but as Eliza has been
so good as to get me a frank, your questions shall be
answered without much further expense to you. —
The best direction to Henry at Oxford will be The
Blue Boar, Cornmarket.—l do not mean to provide
another trimming for my Pelisse, for I am determined
to spend no more money, so I shall wear it as it is,
longer than I ought, & then — I do not know. My
head dress was a Bugle band like the border to my
(277 )
71] From Shane Si, to Godmersham
gown, & a flower of Mrs. Tilson’s. — I depended upon
hearing something of the Even 8 from Mr. W. K. — &
am very well satisfied with his notice of me. ‘A
pleasing looking young woman,’ — that must do ; —
one cannot pretend to anything better now — thankful
to have it continued a few years longer ! — It gives me
sincere pleasure to hear of Mrs. Knight’s having had
a tolerable night at last — but upon this occasion I
wish she had another name, for the two Nights jingle
very much. — We have tried to get Self-controul, but
in vain. — I should like to know what her Estimate is —
but am always half afraid of finding a clever novel
too clever — & of finding my own story and my own
people all forestalled. Eliza has just rec d a few lines
from Henry to assure her of the good conduct of his
Mare. He slept at Uxbridge on Sunday, & wrote
from Wheatfield. — We were not claimed by Hans
place yesterday, but are to dine there today. — Mr.
Tilson called in the even 8 .— but otherwise we were
quite alone all day, & after having been out a good
deal, the change was very pleasant. — I like your
opinion of Miss Allen much better than I expected,
& have now hopes of her staying a whole twelve-
month. — By this time I suppose she is hard at it,
governing away — poor creature ! I pity her, tho’
they are my neices. Oh 1 yes, I remember Miss
Emma Plumbtree’s Local consequence perfectly. —
1 1 am in a Dilemma, for want of an Emma,’
‘ Escaped from the Lips, of Henry Gipps.’—
But really, I was never much more put to it, than
in contriving an answer to Fanny’s former message.
What is there to be said on the subject ? — Pery pell —
or pare pey ? or po.- — or at the most, Pi pope pey pike
( 278 )
✓
Tuesday 30 April 1811 [71
pil^ < J congratulate Edward on the Weald of Kent
Canal-Bill being put off till another Session, as I have
just had the pleasure of reading. There is always
something to be hoped from Delay.—
‘ Between Session and Session
4 The first Prepossession ’
* May rouse up the Nation,
>
J
1 And the villainous Bill ’
4 May be forced to lie still ’
* Against Wicked Men’s will.*
There is poetry for Edward and his Daughter, I am
afraid I shall not have any for you.— I forgot to tell
you in my last, that our cousin Miss Payne called in
on Saturday & was persuaded to stay dinner.— She
told us a great deal about her friend Lady Cath.
Brecknell, who is most happily married— & Mr.
Brecknell is very religious, & has got black Whiskers.
—I am glad to think that Edw d has a tolerable day
for his drive to Goodnestone, & very glad to hear of
his kind promise of bringing you to Town. I hope
everything will arrange itself favourably. The 16
is now to be Mrs. Dundas's day. — I mean, if I can, to
wait for your return, before I have my new gown
made up— from a notion of their making up to more
advantage together — & as I find the Muslin is not so
wide as it used to be , some contrivance may be neces-
sary . — I expect the Skirt to require one half breadth
cut in gores, besides two Whole breadths.
Eliza has not yet quite resolved on inviting Anna—
but I think she will. —
Yours very affec ly Jane
( 279 )
72] From Chawton to Godmersham
72. To Cassandra Austen. Wednesday 29 May 1811
Address : Miss Austen, Godmersham Park | Faversham Kent. Post-
mark: 30 ( ?) ma 1811.
Historical Soc. of Pennsylvania.
Brabourne ii. 100 ; Life 251 (extracts).
Chawton : Wednesday May 29
It was a mistake of mine, my dear Cassandra, to
talk of a tenth child at Hamstall. I had forgot there
were but eight already.
Your enquiry after my uncle and aunt were most
happily timed, for the very same post brought an
account of them. They are again at Gloucester House
enjoying fresh air, which they seem to have felt the
want of in Bath, and are tolerably well, but not more
than tolerable. My aunt does not enter into parti-
culars, but she does not write in spirits, and we
imagine that she has never entirely got the better of
her disorder in the winter. Mrs. Welby takes her out
airing in her barouche, which gives her a headache
a comfortable proof, I suppose, of the uselessness of
the new carriage when they have got it.
You certainly must have heard before I can tell you
that Col. Orde has married our cousin, Margt. Beck-
ford, the Marchess, of Douglas’s sister. The papers
say that her father disinherits her, but I think too
well of an Orde to suppose that she has not a hand
some independence of her own.
The chicken are all alive and fit for the table, but
we save them for something grand. Some of the
flower seeds are coming up very well, but your
mignonette makes a wretched appearance. Miss Benn
has been equally unlucky as to hers. She had seed
( 280 )
Wednesday 29 May 1811 [72
from four different people, and none of it comes up.
Our young piony at the foot of the fir-tree has just
blown and looks very handsome, and the whole of the
shrubbery border will soon be very gay with pinks
and sweet-williams, in addition to the columbines
already in bloom. The syringas, too, are coming out.
We are likely to have a great crop of Orleans plumbs,
but not many greengages — on the standard scarcely
any, three or four dozen, perhaps, against the wall.
I believe I told you differently when I first came home,
but I can now judge better than I could then.
I have had a medley and satisfactory letter this
morning from the husband and wife at Cowes ; and,
in consequence of what is related of their plans, we
have been talking over the possibility of inviting
them here in their way from Steventon, which is what
one should wish to do, and is, I daresay, what they
expect ; but, supposing Martha to be at home, it does
not seem a very easy thing to accommodate so large
a party. My mother offers to give up her room to
Frank and Mary, but there will then be only the best
for two maids and three children.
They go to Steventon about the 22nd, and I guess —
for it is quite a guess— will stay there from a fortnight
to three weeks.
I must not venture to press Miss Sharpe’s coming at
present ; we may hardly be at liberty before August.
Poor John Bridges ! we are very sorry for his
situation and for the distress of the family. Lady B.
is in one way severely tried. And our own dear
brother suffers a great deal, I dare say, on the occasion.
I have not much to say of ourselves. Anna is
nursing a cold caught in the arbour at Faringdon, that
( 281 )
From Chawton to Godmersham
72 ]
she may be able to keep her engagement to Maria
M. this evening, when I suppose she will make it
worse.
She did not return from Faringdon till Sunday,
when H. B. walked home with her, and drank tea
here. She was with the Prowtings almost all Monday.
She went to learn to make feather trimmings of Miss
Anna, and they kept her to dinner, which was rather
lucky, as we were called upon to meet Mrs. and Miss
Terry the same evening at the Digweeds ; and,
though Anna was of course invited too, I think it
o
always safest to keep her away from the family lest
she should be doing too little or too much.
Mrs. Terry, Mary, and Robert, with my aunt
Harding and her daughter, came from Dummer for
a day and a night — all very agreeable and very much
delighted with the new house and with Chawton in
general.
We sat upstairs and had thunder and lightning as
usual. I never knew such a spring for thunder-
storms as it has been. Thank God ! we have had no
bad ones here. I thought myself in luck to have my
uncomfortable feelings shared by the mistress of the
house, as that procured blinds and candles. It had
been excessively hot the whole day. Mrs. Harding is
a good-looking woman, but not much like Mrs. Toke,
inasmuch as she is very brown and has scarcely any
teeth; she seems to have some of Mrs. Toke’s civility
but does not profess being so silly. Miss H. is an
elegant, pleasing, pretty-looking girl, about nineteen,
I suppose, or nineteen and a half, or nineteen and
a quarter, with flowers in her head and music at
her finger ends. She plays very well indeed. I have
( 282 )
Wednesday 29 May 1811 [72
seldom heard anybody with more pleasure. They were
at Codington four or five years ago. My cousin, Flora
Long, was there last year.
My name is Diana. How does Fanny like it? What
a change in the weather ! We have a fire again now.
Harriet Benn sleeps at the Great House to-night
and spends to-morrow with us ; and the plan is that
we should all walk with her to drink tea at Faringdon,
for her mother is now recovered, but the state of the
weather is not very promising at present.
Miss Benn has been returned to her cottage since
the beginning of last week, and has now just got
another girl ; she comes from Alton. For many days
Miss B. had nobody with her but her niece Elizabeth,
who was delighted to be her visitor and her maid.
They both dined here on Saturday while Anna was at
Faringdon ; and last night an accidental meeting and
a sudden impulse produced Miss Benn and Maria
Middleton at our tea-table.
If you have not heard it is very fit you should, that
Mr. Harrison has had the living of Fareham given him
by the Bishop, and is going to reside there ; and now
it is said that Mr. Peach (beautiful wiseacre) wants
to have the curacy of Overton, and, if he does leave
Wootton, James Digweed wishes to go there. Fare
you well.
Yours affectionately, Jane Austen
The chimneys at the Great House are done. Mr.
Prowting has opened a gravel pit, very conveniently
for my mother, just at the mouth of the approach to
his house ; but it looks a little as if he meant to catch
all his company. Tolerable gravel.
( 283 )
73]
From Chawton to Godmersham
73. To Cassandra Austen. Friday 31 May 1811
Address : Miss Austen | Edwd. Austen’s esqre. | Godmersham Park |
Favcrsham.
Postmark : 1 jv 1811.
Pierpont Morgan Library, 2 leaves 4°.
Brabpurne ii. 105 ; Life 252 (extracts),
Chawton Friday May 31 st , —
My dear Cassandra
I have a magnificent project. — The Cookes have
put off their visit to us ; they are not well enough to
leave home at present, & we have no chance of seeing
them till I do not know when— probably never, in this
house. This circumstance has made me think the
present time would be favourable for Miss Sharp’s
coming to us ; it seems a more disengaged period with
us, than we are likely to have later in the summer ;
if Frank & Mary do come, it can hardly be before the
middle of July, which will be allowing a reasonable
length of visit for Miss Sharpe supposing she begins it
when you return ; & if you & Martha do not dislike
the plan, & she can avail herself of it, the opportunity
of her being conveyed hither will be excellent. — I shall
write to Martha by this post, & if neither You nor she
make any objection to my proposal, I shall make the
invitation directly— & as there is no time to lose, you
must write by return of post if you have any reason
for not wishing it done. — It was her intention I beleive
to go first to Mrs. Lloyd — but such a means of getting
here may influence her otherwise.— We have had a
Thunder storm again this morn B . Your letter came
to comfort me for it. — I have taken your hint, slight
as it was, & have written to Mrs. Knight, & most
( 284 )
Friday 31 May 1811 [78
sincerely do I hope it will not be in vain. I cannot
endure the idea of her giving away her own wheel, &
have told her no more than the truth, in saying that
I could never use it with comfort ; — I had a great
mind to add that if she persisted in giving it, I would
spin nothing with it but a rope to hang myself — but
I was afraid of making it appear a less serious matter
of feeling than it really is. — I am glad you are so well
yourself, & wish everybody else were equally so. —
I will not say that your Mulberry trees are dead, but
I am afraid they are not alive. We shall have pease
soon — I mean to have them with a couple of Ducks
from W ood Barn & Maria Middleton towards the end
of next week. — From Monday to Wednesday Anna
is to be engaged at Faringdon, in order that she may
come in for the Gaieties of Tuesday (y e 4 th ), on
Selbourne Common, where there are to be Volunteers
& Felicities of all kinds. Harriot B. is invited to
spend the day with the John Whites, & her Father
& Mother have very kindly undertaken to get Anna
invited also. — Harriot and Eliz. dined here yesterday,
& we walked back with them to Tea ; — not my
Mother — she has a cold which affects her in the usual
way, & was not equal to the walk. — She is better this
morn® & I hope will soon physick away the worst part
of it. — It has not confined her ; she has got out every
day that the weather has allowed her. — Poor Anna is
also suffering from her cold which is worse today, but
as she has no sore throat I hope it may spend itself by
Tuesday. She had a delightful Even® with the Miss
Middletons — Syllabub, Tea, Coffee, Singing, Dancing,
a Hot Supper, eleven o’clock, everything that can be
imagined agreable. — She desires her best Love to
( 285 )
73] From Chawton to Godmersham
Fanny, & will answer her letter before she leaves
Chawton, & engages to send her a particular account
of the Selbourne day. We cannot agree as to which
is the eldest of the two Miss Plumbtrees send us
word. Have you remembered to collect peices for the
Patchwork ? — We are now at a stand still. I got up
here to look for the old Map & can now tell you that
it shall be sent tomorrow it was among the great
parcel in the Dining room.— As to my debt of 3 9 . 6
to Edward, I must trouble you to pay it, when you
settle with him for your Boots.— We began our China
Tea three days ago, & I find it very good— my com-
panions know nothing of the matter. — As to Fanny,
& her 12 lb. in a twelvemonth, she may talk till she
is as black in the face as her own Tea, but I cannot
beleive her j — more likely 12 lb. to a quarter. I have
a message to you from Mrs. Cooke ; — the substance of
it is that she hopes you will take Bookham in your
way home, & stay there as long as you can, & that
when you must leave them, they will convey you to
Guildford— You may be sure that it is very kindly
worded— & that there is no want of attendant
Comp ts to my Brother and his family. — I am very
sorry for Mary but I have some comfort in there
being two Curates now lodging in Bookham, besides
their own Mr. Warneford from Dorking, so that I
think she must fall in love with one or the other.
How horrible it is to have so many people killed !—
And what a blessing that one cares for none of them !—
I return to my Letter writing from calling on Miss
Harriot Webb, who is short & not quite straight, &
cannot pronounce an e any better than her Sisters—
but she has dark hair, a complexion to suit, & I think
(286)
Friday 81 May 1811 [78
has the pleasantest countenance & manner of the
three — the most natural. — She appears very well
pleased with her new Home — & they are all reading
with delight Mrs. H. More’s recent publication. —
You cannot imagine— it is not in Human Nature
to imagine what a nice walk we have round the
Orchard. The row of Beech look very well indeed, &
so does the young Quickset hedge in the Garden. —
I hear today that an Apricot has been detected on
one of the Trees. — My Mother is perfectly convinced
now that she shall not be overpower’d by her Cleft
Wood — & I beleive would rather have more than
less. —
Strange to tell, Mr. Prowting was not at Miss Lee’s
wedding — but his Daughters had some cake, & Anna
had her share of it. — I continue to like our old Cook
quite as well as ever — & but that I am afraid to write
in her praise, I could say that she seems just the
Servant for us. — Her Cookery is at least tolerable ; —
her pastry is the only deficiency. — God bless you. — &
I hope June will find you well & bring us together. —
Y” Ever Jane
I hope you understand that I do not expect you to
write on Sunday, if you like my plan. — I shall consider
silence as consent.
( 287 )
74] From Chawton to Godmersham
74. To Cassandra Austen. Thursday 6 J une 1811
■
Address : Miss Austen | Edw^ Austen’s Esq re | Godmersham Park |
Faversham | Kent
Postmark : 7 ju 1811
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°*
Brabourne ii. Ill ; Life 254 (extracts).
Chawton Thursday June 6.
By this time my dearest Cassandra, you know
Martha’s plans. I was rather disappointed I confess
to find that she could not leave Town till after ye 24 th ,
as I had hoped to see you here the week before. The
delay however is not great, & everything seems
generally arranging itself for your return very com-
fortably. I found Henry perfectly pre-disposed to
bring you to London if agreable to yourself ; he has
not fixed his day for going into Kent, but he must be
back again before ye 20 th .— You may therefore think
with something like certainty of the close of your
Godmersham visit, & will have I suppose about a week
for Sloane St. He travels in his Gig & should the
weather be tolerable, I think you must have a delight
ful Journey. — I have given up all idea of Miss Sharpe’s
travelling with you & Martha, for tho’ you are both all
compliance with my scheme, yet as you knock off
a week from the end of her visit, & Martha rather
more from the beginning, the thing is out of the
question. — I have written to her to say that after the
middle of July we shall be happy to receive her—
& I have added a welcome if she could make her way
hither directly ; but I do not expect that she will.
I have also sent our invitation to Cowes— We are
very sorry for the disappointment you have all had in
( 288 )
Thursday 6 June 1811 [74
Lady B.’s illness ; — but a division of the proposed
party is with you by this time, & I hope may have
brought you a better account of the rest. — Give my
Love & Thanks to Harriot ; — who has written me
charming things of your looks, & diverted me very
much by poor Mrs. C. Milles’s continued perplexity. —
I had a few lines from Henry on Tuesday to prepare
us for himself and his friend, & by the time that I had
made the sumptuous provision of a neck of Mutton
on the occasion, they drove into the Court — but lest
you should not immediately recollect in how many
hours a neck of Mutton may be certainly procured,
I add that they came a little after twelve — both tall,
& well, & in their different degrees, agreable. — It was
a visit of only 24 hours — but very pleasant while it
lasted. — Mr. Tilson took a sketch of the Great House
before dinner ; — & after dinner we all three walked
to Chawton Park, meaning to go into it, but it was too
dirty, & we were obliged to keep on the outside. Mr.
Tilson admired the trees very much, but greived that
they should not be turned into money. — My Mother’s
cold is better, & I beleive she only wants dry weather
to be very well. It was a great distress to her that
Anna sh d be absent, during her Uncle’s visit — a dis-
tress which I could not share. — She does not return
from Faringdon till this even 8 , — & I doubt not, has had
plenty of the miscellaneous, unsettled sort of happiness
which seems to suit her best. — We hear from Miss Benn,
who was on the Common with the Prowtings, that she
was very much admired by the Gentlemen in general. —
I like your new Bonnets exceedingly, yours is
a shape which always looks well, & I think Fanny’s
particularly becoming to her. — On Monday I had the
( 289 ) u
74] From Chawton to GodmeTsha m
pleasure of receiving, unpacking & approving our
Wedgwood ware. It all came very safely, & upon the
whole is a good match, tho’ I think they might have
allowed us rather larger leaves, especially in such
a Year of fine foliage as this. One is apt to suppose
that the Woods about Birmingham must be blighted.
—There was no Bill with the Goods— but that shall
not screen them from being paid. I mean to ask
Martha to settle the account. It will be quite in her
way, for she is just now sending my Mother a Break-
fast set, from the same place. I hope it will come by
the Waggon tomorrow ; it is certainly what we want,
& I long to know what it is like ; & as I am sine
Martha has great pleasure in making the present,
I will not have any regret. We have considerable
dealings with the Waggons at present ; a Hamper of
Port & Brandy from Southampton, is now in the
Kitchen— Your answer about the Miss Plumtrees,
proves you as fine a Daniel as ever Portia was for
I maintained Emma to be the eldest. — We began
Pease on Sunday, but our gatherings are very small—
not at all like the Gathering in the Lady of the Lake-
Yesterday I had the agreable surprise of finding several
scarlet strawberries quite ripe ; — had you been at home,
this would have been a pleasure lost. There are more
gooseberries & fewer currants than I thought at first.
We must buy currants for our Wine. — The Digweeds are
gone down to see the Stephen Terrys at Southampton,
& catch the Kings birthday at Portsmouth. Miss
Papillon called on us yesterday, looking handsomer
than ever. — Maria Middleton & Miss Benn dine here
tomorrow. — We are not to enclose any more Letters to
Abingdon St. as perhaps Martha has told you.—
( 290 )
Thursday 6 June 1811 [74
I had just left off writing & put on my Things for
walking to Alton, when Anna & her friend Harriot
called in their way thither, so we went together.
Their business was to provide mourning, against the
King’s death ; & my Mother has had a Bombasin
bought for her. — I am not sorry to be back again, for
the young Ladies had a great deal to do — & without
much method in doing it. — Anna does not come home
till tomorrow morn®. — She has written I find to
Fanny — but there does not seem to be a great deal to
relate of Tuesday. I had hoped there might be
Dancing. — Mrs. Budd died on Sunday Even®. I saw
her two days before her death, & thought it must
happen soon. She suffered much from weakness &
restlessness almost to the last. Poor little Harriot
seems truely greived. You have never mentioned
Harry ; — how is he ? —
With Love to You all, Y rs affec ,y J. A.
74.1. To Martha Lloyd. Sunday 29 Nov. 1812. See
p. 499.
75. To Cassandra Austen. Sunday 24 Jan. 1813
Address : lost. Postmark : none.
T. Edward Carpenter (1948); formerly in the collection described
in Times Literary Supplement 14 Jan 1926. The second sheet
(see p. 295), containing the conclusion (and doubtless the address)
was already missing when Mr. Austen-Leigh copied the letter in
1909.
Memoir 1 133-9, Memoir 1 99-101, where extracts from this letter and
N® 78 are printed as from one letter (of February) ; Life 258
(extracts). A large part unpublished.
Chawton Sunday even® Jan 24
My dear Cassandra
This is exactly the weather we could wish for, if you
are but well enough to enjoy it# I shall be glad to
( 291 )
75] From Chawton to Steventon
hear that you are not confined to the house by an
increase of cold. M r Digweed has used us basely.
Handsome is as handsome does, he is therefore a very
ill-looking man. I hope you have sent oft a letter to
me by this day’s post, unless you are tempted to wait
till to-morrow by one of M r Chute’s franks. We have
had no letter since you went away, & no visitor except
Miss Benn, who dined with us on Friday ; but we
have received the half of an excellent Stilton cheese
we presume from Henry. My mother is very well &
finds great amusement in the glove-knitting, when
this pair is finished she means to knit another, & at
present wants no other work. We quite run over
with books. She has got Sir John Carr’s Travels in
Spain from Miss B . & I am reading a Society octavo, an
Essay on the Military Police & Institutions of the
British Empire by Cap 1 Pasley of the Engineers, a
book which I protested against at first, but which
upon trial I find delightfully written & highly enter-
taining. I am as much in love with the author as ever
I was with Clarkson or Buchanan, or even the two
M r Smiths of the city— the first soldier I ever sighed
for— but he does write with extraordinary force &
spirit. Yesterday moreover brought us M rs Grant’s
letters with M r White’s comp 18 . But I have disposed
of them, comp ts & all, for the first fortnight to Miss
Papillon — & among so many readers or retainers of
books as we have in Chawton I daresay there will be
no difficulty in getting rid of them for another fort-
night if necessary. I learn from Sir J . Carr that there
is no Government House at Gibraltar. I must alter
it to the Commissioner’s. Our party on Wednesday
was not unagreeable, tho’ as usual we wanted a better
(292 )
Sunday 24 January 1818 [75
Master of the House, one less anxious & fidgetty &
more conversible. In consequence of a civil note that
morning from M r9 Clement, I went with her & her
husband in their Tax-cart — civility on both sides ;
I would rather have walked, & no doubt they must
have wished I had. I ran home with my own dear
Thomas at night in great luxury. Thomas was very
useful. We were eleven altogether, as you will find
on computation adding Miss Benn & two strange
gentlemen, a M r Twyford curate of G l Worldham,
who is living in Alton, & his friend M r Wilkes. I don t
know that M r T. is anything except very dark-
complexioned, but M r W. was a useful addition, being
an easy, talking, pleasantish young man— a very young
man, hardly 20 perhaps. He is of S l John’s Cam-
bridge & spoke very highly of H. Walter as a schollar.
he said he was considered as the best classick in the
University. How such a report would have interested
my father ! I could see nothing very promising
between M r P. & Miss P. T. She placed herself on
one side of him at first, but Miss Benn obliged her to
move up higher ; & she had an empty plate, & even
asked him to give her some mutton twice without
being attended to for some time. There might be
design in this, to be sure, on his side ; he might think
an empty stomach the most favourable for love.
Upon M rs Digweed’s mentioning that she had sent
the Rejected Addresses to M r Hinton, I began talking
to her a little about them, & expressed my hope of
their having amused her. Her answer was ‘ Oh dear
yes, very much, very droll indeed — the opening of the
House, & the striking up of the Fiddles ! ’ What she
meant poor woman, who shall say ? I sought no
(298)
75] From Chawton to Steventon
farther. The Papillons have now got the book, & like
it very much ; their neice Eleanor has recommended
it most warmly to them. She looks like a rejected
addresser. As soon as a whist party was formed, &
a round table threatened, I made my mother an
excuse & came away, leaving just as many for their
round table as there were at M rs Grants. I wish they
might be as agreeable a set. It was past 10 when
I got home, so I was not ashamed of my dutiful
delicacy. The Coulthards were talked of you may be
sure, no end of them. Miss Terry had heard they were
going to rent M r Bramston’s house at Oakley, & M"
Clement that they were going to live at Streatham.
M rs Digweed & I agreed that the house at Oakley
could not possibly be large enough for them, & now
we find they have really taken it. M r Gauntlett is
thought very agreeable — & there are no children at all.
The Miss Sibleys want to establish a Book Society in
their side of the country, like ours. What can be a
stronger proof of that superiority in ours over the
Steventon & Manydown society, which I have always
foreseen & felt ? No emulation of the kind was ever
inspired by their proceedings. No such wish of the
Miss Sibleys was ever heard in the course of the many
years of that Society’s existence. And what are their
Biglands & their Barrows, their Macartneys & Mac-
kenzies to Cap 4 Pasley’s Essay on the Military police
of the British Empire, & the rejected addresses ?
I have walked once to Alton, & yesterday Miss
Papillon & I walked together to call on the Garnets.
She invited herself very pleasantly to be my com-
panion, when I went to propose to her the indulgence
of accommodating us about the Letters from the
( 294 )
Sunday 24 January 1818 [75
Mountains. I had a very agreeable walk, & if she
had not, more shame for her, for I was quite as
entertaining as she was. Dame G. is pretty well, &
we found her surrounded by her well "behaved, healthy,
large-eyed children. I took her an old shift, & pro-
mised her a set of our Linen, & my companion left
some of her Bank Stock with her. Tuesday has done
its duty & I have had the pleasure of reading a very
comfortable letter. It contains so much that I feel
obliged to write down the whole of this page, & perhaps
something in a cover. When my parcel is finished
I shall walk with it to Alton. I believe Miss Benn
will go with me. She spent yesterday evening with us.
As I know Mary is interested in her not being neglected
by her neighbours, pray tell her that Miss B dined
last Wednesday at M r Papillon’s— on Thursday with
Cap* & M ib Clement— friday here, Saturday with M 18
Digweed, & Sunday with the Papillons again. I had
fancied that Martha w d be at Barton from last Satur-
day, but am best pleased to be mistaken. I hope she
is now quite well. Tell her that I hunt away the
rogues every night from under her bed, they feel the
difference of her being gone. Miss Benn wore her new
shawl last night, sat in it the whole evening, & seemed
to enjoy it very much.
‘A very sloppy lane’ last Friday. What an odd
sort of country you must be in! I cannot at all under-
stand it! It was just greasy here on Friday in conse-
quence of the little snow that had fallen in the night.
Perhaps it was cold on Wednesday, yes I believe it
certainly was, but nothing terrible. Upon the whole
the weather for winter weather is delightful, the walk-
ing excellent. I cannot imagine what sort of a place
( 295 )
75] From Chawton to Steventon
Steventon can be ! My mother sends her love to
Mary, with thanks for her kind intentions & enquiries
as to the Pork & will prefer receiving her share from
the two last Pigs : she has great pleasure in sending
her a pair of garters, & is very glad that she had them
ready knit. Her letter to Anna is to be forwarded if
any opportunity offers, otherwise it may wait for her
return. M rs Leigh’s letter came this morning, we are
glad to hear anything so tolerable of Scarlets. Poor
Charles & his frigate — But there could be no chance
of his having one, while it was thought such a cer-
tainty. I can hardly believe Brother Michael’s news.
We have no such idea in Chawton at least. M m
B ramston is the sort of woman I detest. M r Cottrell
is worth ten of her. It is better to be given the lie
direct than to excite no interest. . . .
76. To Cassandra Austen. Friday 29 Jan. <1813)
No address or postmark.
T. Edward Carpenter (1948) ; formerly in the collection described in
Times Literary Supplement 14 Jan. 1926.
Memoir 1 131, Memoir 2 97 (extracts); Life 260 (extracts). Part
unpublished*
Chawton Friday Jan y 29
I hope you received my little parcel by J. Bond on
Wednesday evening my dear Cassandra, & that you
will be ready to hear from me again on Sunday, for
I feel that I must write to you to-day. Your parcel
is safely arrived & everything shall be delivered as it
ought. Thank you for your note. As you had not
heard from me at that time it was very good in you
to write, but I shall not be so much your debtor soon.
(296)
Friday 29 January 1818 [76
I want to tell you that I have got my own darling
child from London ; on Wednesday I received one
copy sent down by Falknor with three lines from
Henry to say that he had given another to Charles,
& sent a 3 d by the coach to Godmersham — just the
two sets which I was least eager for the disposal of.
I wrote to him immediately to beg for my two other
sets, unless he would take the trouble of forwarding
them at once to Steventon & Portsmouth — not having
an idea of his leaving Town before to-day ; by your
account however he was gone before my letter was
written. The only evil is the delay : nothing more
can be done till his return — Tell James & Mary so
with my love. For your sake I am as well pleased
that it should be so, as it might be unpleasant to you
to be in the neighbourhood at the first burst of the
business. The Advertisement is in our paper to-day
for the first time 18 s . He shall ask £1. 1. for my two
next & £l. 8 for my stupidest of all. I shall write to
Frank that he may not think himself neglected. Miss
Benn dined with us on the very day of the books
coming & in the evening we set fairly at it, and read
half the first vol. to her, prefacing that, having
intelligence from Henry that such a work would soon
appear, we had desired him to send it whenever it
came out, and I believe it passed with her unsuspected.
She was amused, poor soul ! That she could not help,
you know, with two such people to lead the way, but
she really does seem to admire Elizabeth. I must
confess that I think her as delightful a creature as ever
appeared in print, and how I shall be able to tolerate
those who do not like her at least I do not know.
There are a few typical errors ; and a ‘ said he,’ or a
( 297 )
76] From Ckawton to Steventon
* said she,* would sometimes make the dialogue more
immediately clear ; but
I do not write for such dull elves
As have not a great deal of ingenuity themselves.
The second volume is shorter than I could wish, but
the difference is not so much in reality as in look,
there being a larger proportion of narrative in that
part. I have lop’t and crop’t so successfully, however,
that I imagine it must be rather shorter than S. & S,
altogether. Now I will try to write of something else,
& it shall be a complete change of subject — ordina-
tion — I am glad to find your enquiries have ended so
well. If you could discover whether Northampton-
shire is a country of Hedgerows I should be glad again.
We admire your Charades excessively—but as yet
have guessed only the l 8t . The others seem very
difficult. There is so much beauty in the versification
however, that the finding them out is but a secondary
pleasure. I grant you that this is a cold day, & am
sorry to think how cold you will be through the process
of your visit at Many down. I hope you will wear
your China crape. Poor wretch! I can see you shiver-
ing away with your miserable feeling feet. What a vile
character M r Digweed turns out, quite beyond any-
thing & everything — instead of going to Steventon,
they are to have a dinner-party next Tuesday! I am
sorry to say that I c d not eat a mince-pie at M r
Papillon’s ; I was rather headachey that day & could
not venture on anything sweet except jelly, but that
was excellent. There were no stewed pears — but Miss
Benn had some almonds & raisins. By the bye she
desired to be kindly remembered to you when I wrote
( 298 )
Friday 29 January 1818 [76
last & I forgot it. Betsy sends her duty to you &
hopes you are well — & her love to Miss Caroline &
hopes she has got rid of her cough. It was such a
pleasure to her to think her oranges were so well
timed that I daresay she was rather glad to hear of
the cough. Since I wrote this letter we have been
visited by M rB Digweed, her sister & Miss Benn.
I gave M rB D. her little parcel which she opened here,
& seemed much pleased with — and she desired me to
make her best thanks etc. to Miss Lloyd for it. Martha
may guess how full of wonder & gratitude she was.
77. To Cassandra Austen. Thursday 4 Feb . <1813)
No address or postmark.
T. Edward Carpenter (1948) ; formerly in the collection described in
Times Literary Supplement 14 Jan. 1926.
Memoir 1 133, Memoir * 99 (extract); Life 261 (extracts). A large
part unpublished.
Chawton, Thursday Feby 4
My dear Cassandra
Your letter was truly welcome, and I am much
obliged to you all for your praise ; it came at a right
time, for I had had some fits of disgust. Our second
evening’s reading to Miss Benn had not pleased me
so well, but I believe something must be attributed to
my mother’s too rapid way of getting on : and though
she perfectly understands the characters herself, she
cannot speak as they ought. Upon the whole, however,
I am quite vain enough and well satisfied enough. The
work is rather too light, and bright, and sparkling;
it wants shade ; it wants to be stretched out here and
there with a long chapter of sense, if it could be had ;
if not, of solemn specious nonsense, about something
( 299 )
From Chawton to Steventon
77]
unconnected with the story ; an essay on writing,
a critique on Walter Scott, or the history of Buona-
parte, or anything that would form a contrast, and
bring the reader with increased delight to the playful-
ness and epigrammatism of the general style. I doubt
your quite agreeing with me here. I know your
starched notions. The caution observed at Steventon
with regard to the possession of the book is an agree-
able surprise to me, & I heartily wish it may be the
means of saving you from everything unpleasant—
but you must be prepared for the neighbourhood
being perhaps already informed of there being such
a Work in the World & in the Chawton World !
Dummer will do that you know. It was spoken of
here one morning when M rs D. called with Miss Benn.
The greatest blunder in the printing that I have met
with is in page 220, v. 3, where two speeches are made
into one. There might as well have been no suppers
at Longbourn ; but I suppose it was the remains of
Mrs. Bennett’s old Meryton habits. I am sorry for
your disappointment about Manydown & fear this
week must be a heavy one. As far as one may venture
to judge at a distance of 20 miles, you must miss
Martha. For her sake I was glad to hear of her going
as I suppose she must have been growing anxious &
wanting to be again in scenes of agitation & exertion.
She had a lovely day for her journey. I walked to
Alton, & dirt excepted found it delightful, it seemed
like an old Feb y come back again. Before I set out we
were visited by M rs Edwards, & while I was gone
Miss Beckford & Maria, & Miss Woolls & Harriet B.
called, all of whom my Mother was glad to see, & I
very glad to escape. John M. is sailed & now Miss B
( 800 )
Thursday 4 February 1813 [77
thinks his father will really try for a house, & has
hopes herself of avoiding Southampton, this is as it
was repeated to me— & I can tell the Miss Williamses
that Miss Beckford has no intention of inviting them
to Chawton. Well done you — I thought of you at
Manydown in the Drawing-room, & in your China
crape, therefore you were in the Breakfast parlour in
your brown Bombasin ; if I thought of you so, you
would have been in the Kitchen in your morning
stuff. I feel that I have never mentioned the Har-
woods in my letters to you, which is shocking enough,
but we are sincerely glad to hear all the good of them
you send us. There is no chance I suppose, no danger
of poor M rs H.’s being persuaded to come to Chawton
at present. I hope John H will not have more debts
brought in than he likes. I am pleased with M. T.’s
being to dine at Steventon, it may enable you to be
yet more decided with Fanny, & help to settle her
faith. Thomas was married on Saturday, the wedding
was kept at Neatham, & that is all I know about it.
Browning is quite a new broom, & at present has no
fault. He had lost some of his knowledge of waiting,
& is I think rather slow, but he is not noisy, & not at
all above being taught. The Back-gate is regularly
locked. I did not forget Henry’s fee to Thomas.
I had a letter from Henry yesterday, written on
Sunday from Oxford, mine had been forwarded to
him. Edward’s information therefore was correct.
He says that copies were sent to S. & P. at the same
time with the others. He has some thoughts of going
to Addlestrop.
( 301 )
78]
From Chawton to Manydown
78. To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday 9 Feb. <1818)
Address : Miss Austen | Manydown | By favour of M r Gray
Postmark : none.
T. Edward Carpenter (1948) ; formerly in the collection described in
Times Literary Supplement 14 Jan. 1926.
Memoir 1 183-9, Memoir 1 99-101, where extracts from this letter
and N° 75 are printed as from one letter ; Life 262 (extracts). A
large part unpublished.
Chawton Tuesday Feb. 9
This will be a quick return for yours, my dear
Cassandra ; I doubt its having much else to recom-
mend it, but there is no saying ; it may turn out to be
a very long & delightful letter. What a day was
yesterday 1 How many impatient grumbling spirits
must have been confined ! We felt for you, I could
think of nothing to amuse you but packing up your
cloathes. My Mother was quite in distress about
Edward & Anna, & will not be quite comfortable till
she knows how their journeys were settled. In a few
hours you will be transported to Manydown & then
for CandouT & Comfort & Coffee & Cribbage. Perhaps
it will be your last visit there. While I think of it,
give my love to Alethea (Alethea first mind, she is
Mistress) & M rs Heathcote & kind remembrances to
Miss Charlotte Williams. Only think of your having
at last the honour of seeing that wonder of wonders,
her elder sister ! We are very sorry for what you tell
us of Deane. If M rs Heathcote does not marry &
comfort him now I shall think she is a Maria & has no
heart. Really, either she or Alethea must marry him,
or where he is to look for happiness ? I am exceed-
ingly pleased that you can say what you do, after
( 302 )
Tuesday 9 February 1818 [78
having gone thro’ the whole work — & Fanny’s praise
is very gratifying. My hopes were tolerably strong of
her , but nothing like a certainty. Her liking Darcy
& Elizabeth is enough, she might hate all the others
if she would. I have her opinion under her own hand
this morning, but your transcript of it which I read
first was not & is not the less acceptable. To me it is
of course all praise, but the more exact truth which
she sends you is good enough. We are to see the Boys
for a few hours this day se’night & I am to order a
chaise for them which I propose 5’o’clock for, & having
a 3 o’clock dinner. I am sorry to find that Sackree
was worse again when Fanny wrote, she had been
seized the night before with a violent shivering & fever
& was still so ill as to alarm Fanny, who was writing
from her room. Miss Clewes seems the very governess
they have been looking for these ten years — longer
coming than J. Bond’s last shock of corn. If she will
but only keep good & amiable & perfect ! Clewes is
better than Clowes. And is it not a name for Edward
to pun on ? Is not a clew a nail ? Yes, I believe
I shall tell Anna, & if you see her & do not dislike the
commission, you may tell her for me. You know that
I meant to do it as handsomely as I could. But she
will probably not return in time. Browning goes on
extremely well ; as far as he has been able to do
anything out of doors, my Mother is exceedingly
pleased. The dogs seem just as happy with him as
with Thomas, — Cook & Betsy I imagine a great deal
happier. Poor Cook is likely to be tried by a wet
season now, but she has not begun lamenting much
yet. Old Philmore I believe is well again. My cold
has been an off and on cold almost ever since you
( 303 )
78] From Chawton to Manydown
went away, but never very bad. I increase it by
walking out, & cure it by staying within. On Saturday
I went to Alton, & the high wind made it worse — but
by keeping house ever since, it is almost gone. I have
had letters from my Aunt & from Charles within these
few days. My Uncle is quite confined to his chair by
a broken chilblain on one foot, & a violent swelling
on the other, which my Aunt does not know what to
call ; there does not seem pain enough for gout. But
you had all this history at Steventon perhaps. She
talks of being another fortnight at Scarlets ; she is
really anxious I can believe to get to Bath, as they
have an apprehension of their house in Pulteney S*
having been broken into. Charles, his wife, & eldest
& youngest reached the Namur in health & safety
last Sunday se’night. Middle is left in Keppel S‘.
Lady W. has taken to her old tricks of ill-health again,
& is sent for a couple of months among her friends.
Perhaps she may make them sick. I have been applied
to for information as to the oath taken in former
times of Bell, Book, & Candle but have none to give.
Perhaps you may be able to learn something of its
origin & meaning at Manydown. Ladies who read
those enormous great stupid thick quarto volumes
which one always sees in the Breakfast parlour there,
must be acquainted with everything in the world.
I detest a quarto. Cap 4 Pasley’s book is too good for
their Society. They will not understand a man who
condenses his thoughts into an octavo. I do not mean
however to put M rB H. out of conceit with her Society ;
if she is satisfied, well ; if she thinks others satisfied,
still better — I say nothing of the complaints which
reach me from all quarters. Kill poor M rs Sclater if
( 304 )
Tuesday 9 February 1818 [78
you like it while you are at Manydown. Miss Benn
dined here on Friday. I have not seen her since —
there is still work for one evening more. I know
nothing of the Prowtings. The Clements are at home,
& are reduced to read. They have got Miss Edge-
worth. I have disposed of M rs Grant for the 2 nd
fortnight to M rs Digweed — it can make no difference
to her, which of the 26 fortnights in the year the
8 vols lay in her house. It is raining furiously, & tho’
only a storm I shall probably send my letter to Alton
instead of going myself. I had no thought of your
writing by M r Gray. On Sunday or Tuesday I suppose
I shall hear. Cook does not think the Mead in a state
to be stopped down. If M rs Freeman is anywhere
above ground, give my best comp 18 to her.
Y ours very affec‘ ly
J. Austen
78.1. To Martha Lloyd. Tues. 16 Feb. 1818. See p. 503
79. To Cassandra Austen. Thursday 20 May 1813
Address: Miss Austen | Chawton | Alton | Hants
Postmark: 20 ma 1813
T. Edward Carpenter (1948); formerly in the collection described in
Times Literary Supplement 14 Jan. 1926.
Memoir 1 102 (extracts) ; Life 265 (extracts). A large part un-
published.
Sloane S* Thursday May 20
My dear Cassandra
Before I say anything else, I claim a paper full of
halfpence on the drawing-room mantlepiece ; I put
them there myself, and forgot to bring them with me.
I cannot say that I have yet been in any distress for
money, but I chuse to have my due, as well as the
Devil. How lucky we were in our weather yesterday !
( 305 )
x
79] From Sloane St. to Chawton
This wet morning makes one more sensible of it. We
had no rain of any consequence. The head of the
curricle was put half up three or four times, but our
share of the showers was very trifling, though they
seemed to be heavy all round us, when we were on
the Hog’s-back, and I fancied it might then be raining
so hard at Chawton as to make you feel for us much
more than we deserved. Three hours and a quarter
took us to Guildford, where we staid barely two hours,
and had only just time enough for all we had to do
there ; that is, eating a long comfortable breakfast,
watching the carriages, paying M r Herington, and
taking a little stroll afterwards. From some views
which that stroll gave us, I think most highly of the
situation of Guildford. We wanted all our brothers
and sisters to be standing with us in the bowling-green,
and looking towards Horsham. I told M r Herington
of the currants, he seemed equally surprised & shocked
— & means to talk to the man who put them up — I
wish you may find the currants any better for it.
He does not expect Sugars to fall. I was very lucky
in my gloves — got them at the first shop I went to,
though I went into it rather because it was near than
because it looked at all like a glove shop, and gave
only four shillings for them ; upon hearing which
everybody at Chawton will be hoping and predicting
that they cannot be good for anything, and their worth
certainly remains to be proved ; but I think they look
very well. We left Guildford at twenty minutes before
twelve (I hope somebody cares for these minutiae),
and were at Esher in about two hours more. I was
very much pleased with the country in general.
Between Guildford and Ripley I thought it particularly
( 306 )
Thursday 20 May 1818 [79
pretty, also about Painshill & everywhere else ; and
from a M r Spicer’s grounds at Esher, which we
walked into before our dinner, the views were beautiful.
I cannot say what we did not see, but I should think
that there could not be a wood, or a meadow, or
palace, or a remarkable spot in England that was not
spread out before us on one side or the other. Clare-
mont is going to be sold : a M r Ellis has it now.
It is a house that seems never to have prospered.
At 3 we were dining upon veal cutlets & cold ham,
all very good, & after dinner we walked forward to be
overtaken at the coachman’s time, and before he did
overtake us we were very near Kingston. I fancy it
was about half-past six when we reached this house —
a twelve hours’ business, and the horses did not
appear more than reasonably tired. I was very tired
too, and very glad to get to bed early, but am quite
well to-day. Upon the whole it was an excellent
journey & very thoroughly enjoyed by me ; the
weather was delightful the greatest part of the day.
Henry found it too warm, & talked of its being close
sometimes, but to my capacity it was perfection.
I never saw the country from the Hogsback so advan-
tageously. We ate 3 of the buns in the course of that
stage, the remaining 3 made an elegant entertainment
for M r & M r8 Tilson who drank tea with us. Now
little Cass & her attendant are travelling down to
Chawton. I wish the day were brighter for them. If
Cassy should have intended to take any sketches while
the others dine she will hardly be able. How will you
distinguish the two Betsies ? M rs Perigord arrived at
\ past 8 & is pretty well, & her mother for her seems
quite well. She sat with me while I breakfasted
( 307 )
79] From Sloane St. to Chawton
this morning, talking of Henrietta S*, servants &
linen, & is too busy in preparing for the future to
be out of spirits. If I can, I shall call by & bye on
M rB Hoblyn & Charlotte Craven. M rB Tilson is going
out which prevents my calling on her, but I believe
we are to drink tea with her. Henry talks of our
going to the watercoloured Exhibition to-morrow, &
of my calling for him in Henrietta S* — if I do, I shall
take the opportunity of getting my Mother’s gown,
so by 3 o’clock in the afternoon she may consider
herself the owner of 7 yds of black sarsenet as com-
pletely as I hope Martha finds herself of a 16 th of the
£20,000. I am very snug with the front drawing-room
all to myself, & would not say ‘ Thank you ’ for any
companion but you. The quietness of it does me
good. Henry & I are disposed to wonder that the
Guildford road should not be oftener preferred to the
Bagshot. It is not longer, has much more beauty,
& not more hills. If I were Charles I should chuse it,
& having him in our thoughts we made enquiries at
Esher as to their posting distances. From Guildford
to Esher 14 miles, from Esher to Hyde Park Corner
15 — which makes it exactly the same as from Bagshot
to H. P. Corner, changing at Bedfont, 49 miles alto-
gether each way. I have contrived to pay my two
visits, though the weather made me a great while
about it, & left me only a few minutes to sit with
C. C. She looks very well, and her hair is done up
with an elegance to do credit to any education. Her
manners are as unaffected and pleasing as ever. She
had heard from her mother to-day. Mrs. Craven
spends another fortnight at Chilton. I saw nobody
but Charlotte, which pleased me best. I was shewn
( 308 )
Thursday 20 May 1818 [79
upstairs into a drawing-room, where she came to me,
and the appearance of the room, so totally unschool-
like, amused me very much ; it was full of all the
modern elegancies — & if it had not been for some
naked Cupids over the Mantlepiece, which must be
a fine study for Girls, one should never have smelt
instruction. M" Perigord desires her duty to all the
ladies.
Yours very affec tly J. A.
80. To Cassandra Austen. Monday 24 May <1813)
Address : Miss Austen | Chawton | By favour of Mess rs Gray &
Vincent
Postmark : none.
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°. A few words cut away.
Braboume ii. 139 ; Life 267 (extracts).
Sloane S‘ Monday May 24.
My dearest Cassandra
I am very much obliged to you for writing to me.
You must have hated it after a worrying morning. —
Your Letter came just in time to save my going to
Remnants, & fit me for Christian’s, where I bought
Fanny’s dimity. I went the day before (Friday) to
Laytons as I proposed, & got my Mother’s gown 7 y ds
at 6/6. I then walked into No. 10, which is all dirt
& confusion, but in a very promising way, & after
being present at the opening of a new account to my
great amusement, Henry & I went to the Exhibition
in Spring Gardens. It is not thought a good collection,
but I was very well pleased — particularly (pray tell
Fanny) with a small portrait of Mrs. Bingley, exces-
sively like her. I went in hopes of seeing one of her
Sister, but there was no Mrs. Darcy ; — perhaps how-
( 309 )
80] From Sloane St. to Chawton
ever, I may find her in the Great Exhibition which we
shall go to, if we have time ; — I have no chance of her
in the collection of Sir Joshua Reynolds’s Paintings
which is now shewing in Pall Mall, & which we are
also to visit. — Mrs. Bingley’s is exactly herself, size,
shaped face, features & sweetness ; there never was
a greater likeness. She is dressed in a white gown,
with green ornaments, which convinces me of what
I had always supposed, that green was a favourite
colour with her. I dare say Mrs. D. will be in Yellow.
— Friday was our worst day as to weather, we were
out in a very long & very heavy storm of hail, & there
had been others before, but I heard no Thunder.—
Saturday was a good deal better, dry & cold. — I gave
2/6 for the Dimity ; I do not boast of any Bargains,
but think both the Sarsenet & Dimity good of their
sor t. — I have bought your Locket, but was obliged to
give 18® for it — which must be rather more than you
intended ; it is neat & plain, set in gold. < Four or five
words cut out > — We were to have gone to the Somerset
House Exhibition on Saturday, but when I reached
Henrietta Street Mr. Hampson was wanted there, &
Mr. Tilson & I were obliged to drive about Town after
him, & by the time we had done, it was too late for
anything but Home.— We never found him after all. —
I have been interrupted by Mrs. Tilson. — Poor
Woman ! She is in danger of not being able to attend
Lady Drummond Smith’s Party tonight. Miss Bur-
dett was to have taken her, & now Miss Burdett
has a cough & will not go. My cousin Caro line is
her sole dependance. — The events of Yesterday were,
our going to Belgrave Chapel in the morn®, our being
prevented by the rain from going to even* service at
(310)
Monday 24 May 1818 [80
S 1 James, Mr. Hampson’s calling, Mess" Barlow &
Phillips dining here, & Mr. & Mrs. Tilson’s coming in
the even* a 1’ ordinaire. — She drank tea with us both
Thursday & Saturday, he dined out each day, & on
friday we were with them, & they wish us to go to
them tomorrow even 8 to meet Miss Burdett, but I do
not know how it will end. Henry talks of a drive to
Hampstead, which may interfere with it. — I should
like to see Miss Burdett very well, but that I am
rather frightened by hearing that she wishes to be
introduced to me. — If I aw a wild Beast, I cannot
help it. It is not my own fault. — There is no change
in our plan of leaving London, but we shall not be
with you before Tuesday. Henry thinks Monday
would appear too early a day. There is no danger of
our being induced to stay longer.
I have not quite determined how I shall manage
about my Cloat lies, perhaps there may be only my
Trunk to send by the Coach, or there may be a Band-
box with it. — I have taken your gentle hint & written
to Mrs. Hill. — The Hoblyns want us to dine with
them, but we have refused. When Henry returns he
will be dining out a great deal I dare say ; as he will
then be alone, it will be more desirable ; — he will be
more welcome at every Table, & every Invitation
more welcome to him. He will not want either of us
again till he is settled in Henrietta St. This is my
present persuasion. — And he will not be settled there,
really settled, till late in the Autumn ; ‘ he will not
be come to bide,’ till after September.— There is a
Gentleman in treaty for this house. Gentleman him-
self is in the Country, but Gentleman’s friend came to
see it the other day & seemed pleased on the whole. —
(811)
80] From Sloane St. to Chawton
Gentleman would rather prefer an increased rent to
parting with five hundred G 8 at once ; & if that is the
only difficulty, it will not be minded. Henry is
indifferent as to the which. — Get us the best weather
you can for Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday. We are
to go to Windsor in our way to Henley, which will be
a great delight. We shall be leaving Sloane St. about
12 — , two or three hours after Charles’s party have
begun their Journey. — You will miss them, but the
comfort of getting back into your own room will be
great ! — & then the Tea & Sugar !—
I fear Miss Clewes is not better, or you w 4 have
mentioned it. — I shall not write again unless I have
any unexpected communication or opportunity to
tempt me. — I enclose Mr. Herington’s Bill & receipt.
I am very much obliged to Fanny for her Letter ; —
it made me laugh heartily ; but I cannot pretend to
answer it. Even had I more time, X should not feel at
all sure of the sort of Letter that Miss D. would write.
I hope Miss Benn is got quite well again & will have
a comfortable Dinner with you today. — Monday even 9 .
—We have been both to the Exhibition & Sir J.
Reynolds’, — and I am disappointed, for there was
nothing like Mrs. D. at either. I can only imagine that
Mr. D. prizes any Picture of her too much to like it
should be exposed to the public eye.— I can imagine
he w d have that sort of feeling— that mixture of Love,
Pride & Delicacy. — Setting aside this disappointment,
I had great amusement among the Pictures ; & the
Driving about, the Carriage being open, was very
pleasant. — I liked my solitary elegance very much, &
was ready to laugh all the time, at my being where
l wa g, — I could not but feel that I had naturally small
( 312 )
Monday 24 May 1813 [80
right to be parading about London in a Barouche. —
Henry desires Edward may know that he has just
bought 3 dozen of Claret for him (Cheap) & ordered it
to be sent down to Chawton. — I should not wonder if
we got no farther than Reading on Thursday even® —
& so, reach Steventon only to a reasonable Dinner
hour the next day ; — but whatever I may write or you
may imagine we know it will be something different. —
I shall be quiet tomorrow morn® ; all my business is
done, & I shall only call again upon Mrs. Hoblyn, &c. —
Love to your much <? redu)ced Party. — Y” affect
J. Austen
81. To Francis Austen. < Saturday ) 3 July 1813
Address : Capt n Austen | HMS Elephant | Baltic
Postmark : none.
Captain Ernest Austen R.N. 2 leaves 4°.
Hubback, Sailor Brothers , 233 ; Life 85, 270.
Chawton July 3, 1813
My dearest Frank
Behold me going to write you as handsome a Letter
as I can. Wish me good luck. — We have had the
pleasure of hearing of you lately through Mary, who
sent us some of the particulars of Yours of June 18 th
(I think) written off Rugen, & we enter into the delight
of your having so good a Pilot. — Why are you like
Queen Eliz th ? — Because you know how to chuse wise
Ministers. — Does not this prove you as great a Captain
as she was a Queen ? — This may serve as a riddle for
you to put forth among your Officers, by way of
increasing your proper consequence.— It must be real
enjoyment to you, since you are obliged to leave
(313)
81] From Chawton to Francis Austen
England, to be where you are, seeing something of
a new Country, & one that has been so distinguished
as Sweden. — You must have great pleasure in it. —
I hope you may have gone to Carlscroon. — Your
Profession has it’s douceurs to recompense for some
of it’s Privations ; — to an enquiring & observing Mind
like yours, such douceurs must be considerable. —
Gustavus-Vasa, & Charles 12 th , & Christina, & Linneus
— do their Ghosts rise up before you ? — I have a great
respect for former Sweden. So zealous as it was for
Protestan<t>ism ! — And I have always fancied it more
like England than many Countries ; — & according to
the Map, many of the names have a strong resemblance
to the English. July begins unpleasantly with us,
cold & showery, but it is often a baddish month. We
had some fine dry weather preceding it, which was
very acceptable to the Holders of Hay & the Masters
of Meadows. — In general it must have been a good
haymaking Season. Edward has got in all his, in
excellent order ; I speak only of Chawton ; but here
he has had better luck than Mr. Middleton ever had
in the 5 years that he was Tenant. Good encourage-
ment for him to come again ; & I really hope he will
do so another Year. — The pleasure to us of having
them here is so great, that if we were not the best
creatures in the World we should not deserve it.
We go on in the most comfortable way, very fre-
quently dining together, & always meeting in some
part of every day.— Edward is very well & enjoys
himself as thoroughly as any Hampshire born Austen
can desire. Chawton is not thrown away upon him.—
He talks of making a new Garden ; the present is
a bad one & ill situated, near Mr. Papillon’s ; he
( 314 )
Saturday 8 July 1818 [81
means to have the new, at the top of the Lawn behind
his own house. — We like to have him proving &
strengthening his attachment to the place by making
it better. — He will soon have all his Children about
him, Edward, George & Charles are collected already,
and another week brings Henry & William. — It is the
custom at Winchester for Georges to come away a
fortnight before the Holidays, when they are not to
return any more ; for fear they should overstudy
themselves just at last, I suppose. — Really it is a piece
of dishonourable accomodation to the Master. — We
are in hopes of another visit from our own true, lawful
Henry very soon, he is to be our Guest this time. —
He is quite well I am happy to say, & does not leave
f __ _
it to my pen I am sure to communicate to you the
joyful news of his being Deputy Receiver no longer. —
It is a promotion which he thoroughly enjoys ; — as
well he may ; — the work of his own mind.— He sends
you all his own plans of course. — The scheme for
Scotland we think an excellent one both for himself
& his nephew. — Upon the whole his Spirits are very
much recovered. — If I may so express myself, his
Mind is not a Mind for affliction. He is too Busy, too
active, too sanguine. — Sincerely as he was attached to
poor Eliza moreover, & excellently as he behaved
to her, he was always so used to be away from her at
times, that her Loss is not felt as that of many a
beloved wife might be, especially when all the circum-
stances of her long and dreadful Illness are taken into
the account. — He very long knew that she must die,
& it was indeed a release at last. — Our mourning for
her is not over, or we should now be putting it on
again for Mr. Tho 8 Leigh — the respectable, worthy,
(315)
81] From Chawton to Francis Austen
clever, agreable M r Tho. Leigh, who has just closed
a good life at the age of 79, & must have died the
possessor of one of the finest Estates in England & of
more worthless Nephews and Neices than any other
private Man in the United Kingdoms.— We are very
anxious to know who will have the Living of Adlestrop,
& where his excellent sister will find a home for the
remainder of her days. As yet she bears his Loss
with fortitude, but she has always seemed so wrapt
up in him, that I fear she must feel it very dreadfully
when the fever of Business is over. — There is another
female sufferer on the occasion to be pitied. Poor
Mrs. L. P. — who would now have been Mistress of
Stonleigh had there been none of that vile compromise,
which in good truth has never been allowed to be of
much use to them. — It will be a hard trial. Charles s
little girls were with us about a month, & had so
endeared themselves that we were quite sorry to have
them go. We have the pleasure however of hearing
that they are thought very much improved at home —
Harriet in health, Cassy in manners— The latter ought
to be a very nice Child — Nature has done enough for
her but Method has been wanting : — we thought
her very much improved ourselves, but to have Papa
& Mama think her so too, was very essential to our
contentment. — She will really be a very pleasing
Child, if they will only exert themselves a little. —
Harriet is a truely sweet-tempered little Darling.—
They are now all at Southend together. Why do I
mention that ?— As if Charles did not write himself.—
I hate to be spending my time so needlessly, encroach-
ing too upon the rights of others— I wonder whether
you happened to see Mr. Blackall’s marriage in the
( 316 )
Saturday 8 July 1813 [81
Papers last Jany. We did. He was married at Clifton
to a Miss Lewis, whose Father had been late of
Antigua. I should very much like to know what sort
of a Woman she is. He was a piece of Perfection,
noisy Perfection himself which I always recollect with
regard. — We had noticed a few months before his
succeeding to a College Living, the very Living which
we remembered his talking of & wishing for ; an
exceeding good one, Great Cadbury in Somersetshire.
— I would wish Miss Lewis to be of a silent turn &
rather ignorant, but naturally intelligent & wishing
to learn ; — fond of cold veal pies, green tea in the
afternoon, & a green window blind at night.
You will be glad to hear that every Copy of S. & S.
is sold & that it has brought me £140 besides the
Copyright, if that sh d ever be of any value. — I have
now therefore written myself into £250 — which only
makes me long for more. — I have something in hand —
which I hope on the credit of P. & P. will sell well,
tho’ not half so entertaining. And by the bye — shall
you object to my mentioning the Elephant in it, &
two or three other of your old Ships ? I have done it,
but it shall not stay, to make you angry. — They are
only just mentioned.
July 6. —
Now my dearest Frank I will finish my Letter.
I have kept it open on the chance of what a Tuesday’s
post might furnish in addition, & it furnishes the
likelihood of our keeping our neighbours at the G‘
House some weeks longer than we had expected. —
Mr. Scudamore, to whom my Brother referred, is very
decided as to G m not being fit to be inhabited at
(317)
81] From Chawton to Francis Austen
present ; — he talks even of two months more being
necessary to sweeten it, but if we have warm weather
I dare-say less will do.— My Brother will probably go
down & sniff at it himself & receive his rents. — The
rent-day has been postponed already. — We shall be
gainers by their stay, but the young people in general
are disappointed, and therefore we c d wish it other-
wise, — Our Cousins Colonel Tho" Austen & Margaretta
are going Aid-de-camps to Ireland & Lord Whitworth
goes in their Train as Lord Lieutenant ; — good ap-
pointments for each. — God bless you. — I hope you
continue beautiful & brush your hair, but not all off.—
We join in an infinity of Love.
Y rs very affec ly
Jane Austen
82. To Cassandra Austen. Wednesday 15 Sept. (1813)
Address (Braboume) : Miss Austen, Chawton | By favour of Mr.
Gray
Original: see note*
Braboume ii. 145 ; Life 273 (extracts).
Henrietta St. ; Wednesday Sept. 15, \ past 8
Here I am, my dearest Cassandra, seated in the
breakfast, dining, sitting-room, beginning with all my
might. Fanny will join me as soon as she is dressed
and begin her letter.
We had a very good journey, weather and roads
excellent ; the three first stages for Is. Qd. t and our
only misadventure the being delayed about a quarter
of an hour at Kingston for horses, and being obliged
to put up with a pair belonging to a hackney coach
and their coachman, which left no room on the
( 318 )
Wednesday 15 September 1818 [82
barouche box for Lizzy, who was to have gone her last
stage there as she did the first ; consequently we were
all four within, which was a little crowd.
We arrived at a quarter-past four, and were kindly
welcomed by the coachman, and then by his master,
and then by William, and then by Mrs. Perigord, who
all met us before we reached the foot of the stairs.
Mde. Bigeon was below dressing us a most comfortable
dinner of soup, fish, bouill6e, partridges, and an apple
tart, which we sat down to soon after five, after clean-
ing and dressing ourselves and feeling that we were
most comm odiously disposed of. The little adjoining
dressing-room to our apartment makes Fanny and
myself very well off indeed, and as we have poor
Eliza’s bed our space is ample every way.
Sace arrived safely about half-past six. At seven
we set off in a coach for the Lyceum ; were at home
again in about four hours and a half ; had soup and
wine and water, and then went to our holes.
Edward finds his quarters very snug and quiet.
I must get a softer pen. This is harder. I am in
agonies. I have not yet seen Mr. Crabbe. Martha’s
letter is gone to the post.
I am going to write nothing but short sentences.
There shall be two full stops in every line. Layton
and Shear’s is Bedford House. We mean to get there
before breakfast if it’s possible ; for we feel more and
more how much we have to do and how little time.
This house looks very nice. It seems like Sloane Street
moved here. I believe Henry is just rid of Sloane
Street. Fanny does not come, but I have Edward
seated by me beginning a letter, which looks natural.
Henry has been suffering from the pain in the face
(819)
82] From Henrietta St. to Chawton
which he has been subject to before. He caught cold
at Matlock, and since his return has been paying
a little for past pleasure. It is nearly removed now,
but he looks thin in the face, either from the pain or
the fatigues of his tour, which must have been great.
Lady Robert is delighted with P. and P., and really
was so, as I understand, before she knew who wrote it,
for, of course, she knows now. He told her with as
much satisfaction as if it were my wish. He did not
tell me this, but he told Fanny. And Mr. Hastings !
I am quite delighted with what such a man writes
about it. Henry sent him the books after his return
from Daylesford, but you will hear the letter too.
Let me be rational, and return to my two full stops.
I talked to Henry at the play last night. We were
in a private box— Mr. Spencer’ s— which made it much
more pleasant. The box is directly on the stage. One
is infinitely less fatigued than in the common way.
But Henry’s plans are not what one could wish. He
does not mean to be at Chawton till the 29th. He must
be in town again by Oct. 5. His plan is to get a couple
of days of pheasant shooting and then return directly.
His wish was to bring you back with him. I have told
him your scruples. He wishes you to suit yourself as
to time, and if you cannot come till later, will send for
you at any time as far as Bagshot. He presumed you
would not find difficulty in getting so far. I could not
say you would. He proposed your going with him into
Oxfordshire. It was his own thought at first. I could
not but catch at it for you.
We have talked of it again this morning (for now we
have breakfasted), and I am convinced that if you can
make it suit in other respects you need not scruple on
( 820 )
Wednesday 15 September 1813 [82
his account. If you cannot come back with him on the
3rd or 4th, therefore, I do hope you will contrive to go
to Adlestrop. By not beginning your absence till
about the middle of this month I think you may
manage it very well. But you will think all this over.
One could wish he had intended to come to you earlier,
but it cannot be helped.
I said nothing to him of Mrs. H. and Miss B., that
he might not suppose difficulties. Shall not you put
them into our own room ? This seems to me the best
plan, and the maid will be most conveniently near.
Oh, dear me ! when I shall ever have done. We did
go to Layton and Shear’s before breakfast. Very
pretty English poplins at 4s. 3d. ; Irish, ditto at 6s. ;
more pretty, certainly — beautiful.
Fanny and the two little girls are gone to take
places for to-night at Covent Garden ; ‘ Clandestine
Marriage ’ and ‘ Midas.’ The latter will be a fine show
for L. and M. They revelled last night in ‘ Don Juan,’
whom we left in hell at half-past eleven. We had
scaramouch and a ghost, and were delighted. I speak
of them ; my delight was very tranquil, and the rest
of us were sober-minded. ‘ Don Juan ’ was the last
of three musical things. ‘ Five hours at Brighton,’ in
three acts — of which one was over before we arrived,
none the worse — and the ‘ Beehive,’ rather less flat
and trumpery.
I have this moment received 51. from kind, beautiful
Edward. Fanny has a similar gift. I shall save what
I can of it for your better leisure in this place. My
letter was from Miss Sharpe — nothing particular.
A letter from Fanny Cage this morning.
Four o'clock. — We are just come back from doing
( 821 )
Y
82] From Henrietta St. to Chawton
Mrs. Tickars, Miss Hare, and Mr. Spence. Mr. Hall
is here, and, while Fanny is under his hands, I will try
to write a little more.
Miss Hare had some pretty caps, and is to make me
one like one of them, only white satin instead of blue.
It will be white satin and lace, and a little white flower
perking out of the left ear, like Harriot Byron’s
feather. I have allowed her to go as far as 1 1. 16s.
My gown is to be trimmed everywhere with white
ribbon plaited on somehow or other. She says it will
look well. I am not sanguine. They trim with white
very much.
I learnt from Mrs. Tickars’s young lady, to my high
amusement, that the stays now are not made to force
the bosom up at all ; that was a very unbecoming,
unnatural fashion. I was really glad to hear that
they are not to be so much off the shoulders as they
were.
Q.Qij^g to Mr. Spence s was a sad business and cost
us many tears ; unluckily we were obliged to go
a second time before he could do more than just look.
We went first at half-past twelve and afterwards at
three \ papa with us each time ; and, alas ! we are to
go again to-morrow. Lizzy is not finished yet. There
have been no teeth taken out, however, nor will be,
I believe, but he finds hers in a very bad state, and
seems to think particularly ill of their durableness.
They have been all cleaned, hers filed, and are to be
filed again. There is a very sad hole between two of
her front teeth. [See note for a suppressed passage.]
Thursday Morning, half-past Seven .— Up and dressed
and downstairs in order to finish my letter in time for
the parcel. At eight I have an appointment with
( 322 )
Wednesday 15 September 1813 [82
Madame B., who wants to show me something down-
stairs. At nine we are to set off for Grafton House,
and get that over before breakfast. Edward is so
kind as to walk there with us. We are to be at Mr.
Spence’s again at 11*5 ; from that time shall be driving
about I suppose till four o’clock at least. We are, if
possible, to call on Mrs. Tilson.
Mr. Hall was very punctual yesterday, and curled
me out at a great rate. I thought it looked hideous,
and longed for a snug cap instead, but my companions
silenced me by their admiration. I had only a bit of
velvet round my head. I did not catch cold however.
The weather is all in my favour. I have had no pain
in my face since I left you.
We had very good places in the box next the stage-
box, front and second row ; the three old ones behind
of course. I was particularly disappointed at seeing
nothing of Mr. Crabbe. I felt sure of him when I saw
that the boxes were fitted up with crimson velvet.
The new Mr. Terry was Lord Ogleby, and Henry thinks
he may do ; but there was no acting more than
moderate, and I was as much amused by the remem-
brances connected with ‘ Midas ’ as with any part of
it. The girls were very much delighted, but still
prefer ‘ Don Juan ; ’ and I must say that I have seen
nobody on the stage who has been a more interesting
character than that compound of cruelty and lust.
It was not possible for me to get the worsteds
yesterday. I heard Edward last night pressing Henry
to come to G m , and I think Henry engaged to go
there after his November collection. Nothing has
been done as to S, and S. The books came to hand
too late for him to have time for it before he went.
( 323 )
82] From Henrietta St. to Chawton
Mr. Hastings never hinted at Eliza in the smallest
degree. Henry knew nothing of Mr. Trimmer’s death.
I tell you these things that you may not have to ask
them over again.
There is a new clerk sent down to Alton, a Mr.
Edmund Williams, a young man whom Henry thinks
most highly of, and he turns out to be a son of the
luckless Williamses of Grosvenor Place.
I long to have you hear Mr. H.’s opinion of P. and P.
His admiring my Elizabeth so much is particularly
welcome to me.
Instead of saving my superfluous wealth for you to
spend, I am going to treat myself with spending it
myself. I hope, at least, that I shall find some poplin
at Layton and Shear’s that will tempt me to buy it.
If I do, it shall be sent to Chawton, as half will be for
you ; for I depend upon your being so kind as to
accept it, being the main point. It will be a great
pleasure to me. Don’t say a word. I only wish you
could choose too. I shall send twenty yards.
Now for Bath. Poor F. Cage has suffered a good
deal from her accident. The noise of the White Hart
was terrible to her. They will keep her quiet, I dare
say. She is not so much delighted with the place as
the rest of the party ; probably, as she says herself,
from having been less well, but she thinks she should
like it better in the season. The streets are very
empty now, and the shops not so gay as she expected.
They are at No. 1 Henrietta Street, the corner of
Laura Place, and have no acquaintance at present but
the Bramstons.
Lady Bridges drinks at the Cross Bath, her son a
the Hot, and Louisa is going to bathe. Dr. Parry
( 324 )
Wednesday 15 September 1818 [82
seems to be half starving Mr. Bridges, for he is
restricted to much such a diet as J ames s bread, water
and meat, and is never to eat so much of that as he
wishes, and he is to walk a great deal — walk till he
drops, 1 believe — gout or no gout. It really is to that
purpose. I have not exaggerated.
Charming weather for you and us, and the travellers,
and everybody. You will take your walk this after-
noon, and . . .
83. To Cassandra Austen. Thursday <16 Sept. 1813)
Address : Miss Austen | Chawton | By favour of (blank)
Postmark : none.
The late Cleveland H. Dodge. 2 leaves 4°. Endorsed 1 Henrietta St,
Autumn of 1813 \
Braboume ii. 154 ; Life 270 (extracts). A few lines unpublished.
Henrietta Street— Thursday— after dinner
Thank you my dearest Cassandra for the nice long
Letter I sent off this morning. — I hope you have had
it by this time & that it has found you all well, & my
Mother no more in need of Leeches. — Whether this
will be delivered to you by Henry on Saturday even*
or by the Postman on Sunday morn* I know not, as
he has lately recollected something of an engagement
for Saturday which perhaps may delay his visit. — He
seems determined to come to you soon however. — I
hope you will receive the Gown tomorrow & may be
able with tolerable honesty to say that you like the
colour ; — it was bought at Grafton House, where, by
going very early, we got immediate attendance & went
on very comfortably. — I only forgot the one particular
thing which I had always resolved to buy there —
(325 )
83] From Henrietta St. to Chawton
a white silk Handkf — & was therefore obliged to give
six shillings for one at Crook & Besford’s — which re-
minds me to say that the Worsteds ought also to be
at Chawton tomorrow & that I shall be very happy to
hear they are approved. I had not much time for
deliberation. We are now all four of us young Ladies
sitting round the Circular Table in the inner room
writing our Letters, while the two Brothers are having
a comfortable coze in the room adjoining. — It is to
be a quiet evening, much to the satisfaction of 4 of the
6. — My Eyes are quite tired of Dust and Lamps. —
The Letter you forwarded from Edw d Jun r has been
duly received. He has been shooting most prosper-
ously at home, & dining at Chilham Castle & with
Mr. Scudamore. My Cap is come home & I like it
very much, Fanny has one also ; hers is white sarsenet
and Lace, of a different shape from mine, more fit for
morning, Carriage wear — which is what it is intended
f or — & is in shape exceedingly like our own Sattin &
Lace of last winter — shaped round the face exactly
like it, with pipes & more fullness, & a round crown
inserted behind. My Cap has a peak in front. Large,
full Bows of very narrow ribbon (old twopenny) are
the thing. One over the right temple perhaps, &
another at the left ear.— Henry is not quite well.—
His stomach is rather deranged. Y ou must keep him
in Rhubarb & give him plenty of Port & Water. — He
caught his cold farther back than I told you before
he got to Matlock — somewhere in his Journey from the
North— but the ill effects of that I hope are nearly
gone. — We returned from Grafton House only just in
time for breakfast & had scarcely finished breakfast
when the carriage came to the door. From 11 to
( 826 )
Thursday 16 September 1818 [88
| past 3 we were hard at it we did contrive to get
to Hans Place for 10 minutes. Mrs. T. was as affec-
tionate & pleasing as ever ; & from her appearance
1 suspect her to be in the family way. Poor Woman !
— Fanny prophecies the Child’s coming within 8 or
4 days.
After our return, Mr. Tilson walked up from the
Compting House & called upon us ; & these have
been all our Visitings.— -I have rejoiced more than
once that I bought my Writing paper in the Country ;
we have not had a q r of an hour to spare. — I enclose
the Eighteen pence due to my Mother.— The Rose
colour was 6/5, & the other 4/s per y d . There was but
2 y d and a q r of the dark slate in the Shop, but the
Man promised to match it and send it off correctly.
Fanny bought her Irish at Newton’s in Leicester Sq re
& I took the opportunity of thinking about your Irish
& seeing one piece of the Yard wide at 4/s. — and it
seemed to me very good — good enough for your pur-
pose. — It might at least be worth your while to go
there, if you have no other engagements. — Fanny is
very much pleased with the stockings she has bought
of Remmington — Silk at 12/s. — Cotton at 4. .3. — She
thinks them great bargains, but I have not seen them
yet — as my hair was dressing when the Man & the
Stockgs came. — The poor Girls & their Teeth ! — I have
not mentioned them yet, but we were a whole hour at
Spence’s, & Lizzy’s were filed & lamented over again
& poor Marianne had two taken out after all, the two
just beyond the Eye teeth, to make room for those in
front. — When her doom was fixed, Fanny Lizzy & I
walked into the next room, where we heard each of
the two sharp hasty Screams. — Fanny’s teeth were
( 827 )
83]
From Henrietta St. to Chawton
cleaned too — & pretty as they are, Spence found
something to do to them, putting in gold and talking
gravely — & making a considerable point of seeing her
again before winter ; — he had before urged the ex-
pediency of L. & M.s being brought to Town in the
course of a couple of Months to be further examined,
& continued to the last to press for their all coming to
him. — My B r would not absolutely promise. — The little
girls teeth I can suppose in a critical state, but I think
he must be a Lover of Teeth & Money & Mischeif
to parade about Fannys. — I would not have had him
look at mine for a shilling a tooth & double it. — It was
a disagreable hour. We then went to Wedgwoods
where my B r & Fanny chose a Dinner Set. — I beleive
the pattern is a small-Lozenge in purple, between
Lines of narrow Gold ; — & it is to have the Crest.
We must have been 3 q rfl of an hour at Grafton
House, Edward sitting by all the time with wonderful
patience. There Fanny bought the Net for Anna’s
gown, & a beautiful Square veil for herself.— The
Edging there is very cheap, I was tempted by some, &
I bought some very nice plaiting Lace at 3-4. —
Fanny desires me to tell Martha with her kind Love
that Birchall assured her there was no 2 d set of Hook’s
Lessons for Beginners — & that by my advice, she has
therefore chosen her a set by another Composer.
I thought she W 1 rather have something than not. —
It costs six shillings. — With Love to You all, including
Triggs, I remain
Yours very affec ly J. Austen
( 328 )
Thursday 23 September 1818 [84
84. To Cassandra Austen. Thursday 23 Sept. <1813)
Address : Miss Austen | Chawton | Alton | Hants
Postmark : fever<siiam>* The dated postmark illegible.
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Braboume ii. 159 ; Life 276 (extracts). A few lines unpublished,
Godmersham Park— Thursday Sept: 23". —
My dearest Cassandra
Thank you five hundred & forty times for the
exquisite piece of Workmanship which was brought
into the room this morn 8 while we were at breakfast —
with some very inferior works of art in the same way,
& which I read with high glee — much delighted with
everything it told whether good or bad— It is so rich
in striking intelligence that I hardly know what to
reply to first. I beleive Finery must have it. I am
extremely glad that you like the Poplin, I thought it
would have my Mother’s approbation, but was not so
confident of yours. Remember that it is a present.
Do not refuse me. I am very rich. — Mrs. Clement is
very welcome to her little Boy & to my Congratula-
tions into the bargain, if ever you think of giving
them. I hope she will do well. — Her sister in Lucina,
Mrs. H. Gipps does too well we think ;— Mary P. wrote
on Sunday that she had been three days on the Sofa.
Sackree does not approve it. How can M r ® J. Austen
be so provokingly ill-judging ?— I should have ex-
pected better from her professed if not her real regard
for my Mother. Now my Mother will be unwell again.
Every fault in Ben’s blood does harm to hers, & every
dinner-invitation he refuses will give her an indi-
gestion. — Well, there is some comfort in the Mrs.
Hulbert s not coming to you — & I am happy to hear
( 329 )
84] From Godmersham to Chawton
of the Honey.— I was thinking of it the other day. —
Let me know when you begin the new Tea — & the
new white wine. — My present Elegancies have not yet
made me indifferent to such Matters. I am still a Cat
if I see a Mouse. — I am glad you like our caps — but
Fanny is out of conceit with hers already ; she finds
that she has been buying a new cap without having
a new pattern, which is true enough. — She is rather
out of luck, to like neither her gown nor her cap — but
I do not mind it, because besides that I like them both
myself, I consider it as a thing of course at her time
of Life — one of the sweet taxes of Youth to chuse in
a hurry & make bad bargains. — I wrote to Charles
yesterday, & Fanny has had a letter from him to day,
principally to make enquiries about the time of their
visit here, to which mine was an answer beforehand ;
so he will probably write again soon to fix his week.—
I am best pleased that Cassy does not go to you.—
Now, what have we been doing since I wrote last ?
The Mr. Ks came a little before dinner on Monday,
& Edw d went to the church with the two Seniors— but
there is no Inscription yet drawn up. They are very
goodnatured you know & civil & all that — but are not
particularly superfine ; however, they ate their dinner
& drank their Tea & went away, leaving their lovely
Wadham in our arms — & I wish you had seen Fanny
& me running backwards & forwards with his Breeches
from the little chintz to the White room before we
went to bed, in the greatest of frights lest he should
come upon us before we had done it all. — There had
been a mistake in the Housemaids’ Preparations &
they were gone to bed. — He seems a very harmless sort
of young Man — nothing to like or dislike in him ;
( 880 )
Thursday 23 September 1813 [84
w
goes out shooting or hunting with the two others all
the morn* — & plays at whist & makes queer faces in
the even 8 . — On Tuesday the Carriage was taken to the
Painters at one time Fanny & I were to have gone
in it, cheifly to call on Mrs. C— Milles and Moy— but
we found that they were going for a few days to Sand-
ling & w* not be at home therefore my Brother &
Fanny went to Eastwell in the chair instead. While
they were gone the Nackington Milles’ called & Iclt
their cards. — Nobody at home at Eastwell. — We hear
a great deal of Geo. H.’s wretchedness. I suppose he
has quick feelings — but I dare say they will not kill
him. — He is so much out of spirits however that his
friend John Plumptre is gone over to comfort him, at
Mr. Hatton’s desire ; he called here this morn 8 in his
way. A handsome young Man certainly, with quiet,
gentlemanlike manners. — I set him down as sensible
rather than Brilliant.— There is nobody Brilliant now-
adays. — He talks of staying a week at Eastwell & then
comes to Chilham Cas: for a day or two, & my B r
invited him to come here afterwards, which he seemed
very agreable to. — ‘ ’Tis Night & the Landscape is
lovely no more,’ but to make amends for that, our
visit to the Tyldens is over. My Brother, Fanny,
Edw d & I went ; Geo. staid at home with W. K.—
There was nothing entertaining, or out of the common
way. We met only Tyldens & double Tyldens. A
Whist Table for the Gentlemen, a grown-up musical
young Lady to play Backgammon with Fanny, &
engravings of the Colleges at Cambridge for me. In
the morn 8 we returned Mrs. Sherer’s visit. — I like
Mr. S. very much. — Well, I have not half done yet ;
I am not come up with mvself— My B r drove Fanny
( 331 )
84] From Godmersham to Chawton
to Nackington & Cant y yesterday, & while they were
gone the Faggs paid their duty. — Mary Oxenden is
staying at Cant y with the Blairs, & Fanny’s object was
to see her. — The Deedes’ want us to come to Sandling
for a few days, or at least a day & night ; — at present
Edw d does not seem well affected — he w d rather not be
asked to go anywhere — but I rather expect he will be
persuaded to go for the one day & night. I read him
the cheif of your Letter, he was interested & pleased
as he ought, & will be happy to hear from you himself.
— Your finding so much comfort from his Cows gave
him evident pleasure. — I wonder Henry did not go
down on Saturday ; — he does not in general fall within
a doubtful Intention. — My face is very much as it was
before I came away— for the first two or three days it
was rather worse — I caught a small cold in my way
down & had some pain every even 8 — not to last long,
but rather severer than it had been lately. This has
worn off however & I have scarcely felt anything for
the last two days. — Sackree is pretty well again, only
weak much obliged to you for your message &c
it was very true that she bless’d herself the whole time
that the pain was not in her stomach. I read all the
scraps I could of Your letter to her. She seemed to
like it — & says she shall always like to hear anything
of Chawton now— & I am to make you Miss Clewes’s
assurance to the same effect, with Thanks and best
respects &c. — The girls are much disturbed at Mary
Stacey’s not admitting Dame L. — Miss C. & I are
sorry but not angry ; — we acknowledge Mary Stacey s
right & can suppose her to have reason. — Oh ! the
Church must have looked very forlorn. We all thought
of the empty Pew. — How Bentigh is grown ! — and the
( 332 )
Thursday 23 September 1818 [84
Canty .Hill-Plantation !— And the Improvements with-
in are very great.— I admire the Chintz room very
much. — We live in the Library except at Meals & have
a fire every Even®. — The weather is set about chang-
ing ; — we shall have a settled wet season soon. I must
go to bed.
Friday. I am sorry to find that one of the nightcaps
here belongs to you — sorry, because it must be in
constant wear. — Great Doings again today — Fanny,
Lizzy & Mar: are going to Goodnestone for the Fair,
which is tomorrow, & stay till Monday, & the Gentle-
men are all to dine at Evington. Edw d has been
repenting ever since he promised to go & was hoping
last night for a wet day — but the morn® is fair. —
I shall dine with Miss Clewes & I dare say find her very
agreable. — The invitation to the Fair was general ;
Edw d positively declined his share of that, & I was
very glad to do the same. — It is likely to be a baddish
Fair — not much upon the Stall, & neither Mary 0.
nor Mary P.— It is hoped that the Portfolio may be
in Cant y this morn®. Sackree’s sister found it at
Croydon and took it to Town with her, but unluckily
did not send it down till she had directions. Fanny
C’s. screens can be done nothing with, but there are
parts of workbags in the parcel, very important in
their way. — Three of the Deedes girls are to be at
Goodnestone. — We shall not be much settled till this
visit is over — settled as to employment I mean ; —
Fanny and I are to go on with Modern Europe
together, but hitherto have advanced only 25 Pages,
something or other has always happened to delay or
curtail the reading hour. — I ought to have told you
before of a purchase of Edward’s in Town, he desired
(333)
84] From Godmersham to Chawton
you might hear of it, a Thing for measuring Timber
with, so that you need not have the trouble of finding
him in Tapes any longer. — He treated himself with
this seven shilling purchase, & bought a new Watch
and new Gun for George. — The new gun shoots very
well.
Apples are scarce in this Country ; £1 — 5 — a sack. —
Miss Hinton should take Hannah Knight. — Mrs.
Driver has not yet appeared. — J. Littleworth & the
Grey Poney reached Bath safely. —
A letter from Mrs. Cooke, they have been at
Brighton a fortnight, stay at least another & Mary is
already much better. — Poor Dr. Isham is obliged to
admire P. & P — & to send me word that he is sure he
shall not like M de Darblay’s new Novel half so well. —
Mrs. C. invented it all of course. He desires his comp tB
to you & my Mother. — Of the Adlestrop-Living busi-
ness Mrs. C. says ‘ It can be now no secret, as the
Papers for the necessary Dispensations are going up
to the Archbishop’s Secretary. — However be it known
that we all wish to have it understood that George
takes this Trust entirely to oblige Mr. Leigh & never
will be a shilling benefited by it. Had my consent
been necessary, beleive me I sh d have withheld it, for
I do think it on the part of the Patron a very shabby
peice of business, — All these and other Scrapings from
dear Mrs. E. L. are to accumulate no doubt to help
Mr. Twisleton to a secure admission again into Eng-
land.’ — I would wish you therefore to make it known
to my Mother as if this were the first time of Mrs.
Cooke’s mentioning it to me. —
I told Mrs. C. of my mother’s late oppression in her
head . — She says on that subject — ‘ Dear Mrs. Austen’s
( 834 )
Thursday 28 September 1818 [84
is I beleive an attack frequent at her age & mine.
Last year I had for some time the Sensation of a Peck
Loaf resting on my head, & they talked of cupping me,
but I came off with a dose or two of calomel & have
never heard of it since.’ —
The three Miss Knights & Mrs. Sayce are just off ; —
the weather has got worse since the early morn* ; — &
whether Mrs. Clewes & I are to be Tete a Tetc, or to
have 4 gentlemen to admire us is uncertain.
I am now alone in the Library, Mistress of all I
survey — at least I may say so & repeat the whole poem
if I like it, without offence to anybody. —
Martha will have wet Races & catch a bad cold ; —
in other respects I hope she will have much pleasure
at them — & that she is free from Ear ache now. I am
glad she likes my cap so well. — I assure you my old
one looked so smart yesterday that I was asked two
or three times before I set off, whether it was not my
new one. — I have this moment seen Mrs. Driver driven
up to the Kitchen Door. I cannot close with a grander
circumstance or greater wit. —
Yours affec: ly J. A.
I am going to Avrite to Steventon so you need not
send any news of me there.
Louisa’s best Love & a Hundred Thousand Million
Kisses.
( 835 )
85] From Godmersham to Fraiutis Austen
85. To Francis Austen. < Saturday ) 25 Sept. 1813
Address : Captain Austen | HMS. Elephant | Baltic
Postmark : none.
Captain Ernest Austen R.N. 2 leaves 4°.
Hubback, Sailor Brothers, 243 ; Life 278.
Godmersham Park — Sept: 25. 1813
My dearest Frank
The 11 th of this month brought me your letter &
I assure you I thought it very well worth its |/g. — I
am very much obliged to you for filling me so long
a sheet of paper, you are a good one to traffic with in
that way, you pay most liberally ; — my Letter was
a scratch of a note compared with yours— & then you
write so even, so clear both in style & Penmanship,
so much to the point & give so much real intelligence
that it is enough to kill one— X am sorry Sweden is
so poor & my riddle so bad.— The idea of a fashionable
Bathing place in Mecklenburg !— How can people
pretend to be fashionable or to bathe out of England !
. — Rostock Market makes one’s mouth water, our
cheapest Butcher’s meat is double the price of theirs ;—
nothing under 9 d all this summer, & I beleive upon
recollection nothing under 10 d . — Bread has sunk & is
likely to sink more, which we hope may make Meat
sink too. But I have no occasion to think of the price
of Bread or of Meat where I am now ; — let me shake
off vulgar cares & conform to the happy Indifference
of East Kent wealth. — I wonder whether You & the
King of Sweden knew that I was to come to G m with
my B r . Yes, I suppose you have rec d due notice of it
by some means or other. I have not been here these
4 years, so I am sure the event deserves to be talked
( 336 )
Saturday 25 September 1813 [85
of before & behind as well as in the middle. — We left
Chawton on ye 14 th , — spent two entire days in Town
& arrived here on ye 17 th . — My B r , Fanny, Lizzy,
Marianne & I composed this division of the Family,
& filled his Carriage, inside & out. — Two post-chaises
under the escort of George conveyed eight more across
the Country, the Chair brought two, two others came
on horseback & the rest by the Coach — & so by one
means or another we all are removed. — It puts me in
mind of the account of S‘ Paul’s shipwreck, when all
are said by different means to reach the shore in
safety. I left my Mother, Cassandra & Martha well,
& have had good accounts of them since. At present
they are quite alone, but they are going to be visited
by Mrs. Heathcote & Miss Bigg — & to have a few days
of Henry’s company likewise. — I expect to be here
about two months. Edward is to be in Hampshire
again in November & will take me back. — I shall be
sorry to be in Kent so long without seeing Mary, but
am afraid it must be so. She has very kindly invited
me to Deal, but is aware of the great improbability of
my being able to get there. — It would be a great
pleasure to me to see Mary Jane again too, as well as
her Brothers, new and old. — Charles & his family
I do hope to see ; they are coming here for a week in
October. — We were accomodated in Henrietta S*. —
Henry was so good as to find room for his 3 neices
and myself in his house. Edward slept at an Hotel
in the next street. — No. 10 is made very comfortable
with cleaning, and Painting & the Sloane S‘ furniture.
The front room upstairs is an excellent Dining &
common sitting parlour — & the smaller one behind
will sufficiently answer his purpose as a Draw 8 room. —
(337) 2
85] From Godmersham to Francis Austen
He lias no intention of giving large parties of any
ki n d ._His plans are all for the comfort of his Friends
& himself.— M de Bigeon & her Daughter have a
Lodging in his neighbourhood & come to him as often
as he likes or as they like. M de B. always markets for
him as she used to do ; & upon our being in the
House, was constantly there to do the work. — She is
wonderfully recovered from the severity of her
Asthmatic complaint.— Of our three even* 8 in Town
one was spent at the Lyceum & another at Covent
Garden ; — the Clandestine Marriage was the most
respectable of the performances, the rest were sing-
song & trumpery, but did very well for Lizzy &
Marianne, who were indeed delighted but I wanted
better acting. — There was no Actor worthy naming.
I beleive the Theatres are thought at a low ebb at
present.— Henry has probably sent you his own
account of his visit in Scotland. I wish he had had
more time & could have gone farther north, & deviated
to the Lakes in his way back, but what he was able
to do seems to have afforded him great enjoyment &
he met with scenes of higher Beauty in Roxburghshire
than I had supposed the South of Scotland possessed.
Our nephew’s gratification was less keen than our
Brother’s.— Edward is no Enthusiast in the beauties
of Nature. His Enthusiasm is for the sports of the
field only.— He is a very promising & pleasing young
Man however upon the whole, behaves with great
propriety to his Father & great kindness to his
Brothers & Sisters— & we must forgive his thinkmg
more of Growse & Partridges than Lakes & Moun-
tains. He & George are out every morn*
shooting or with the Harriers. They are both good
( 338 )
Saturday 25 September 1813 [85
shots. — Just at present I am Mistress & Miss & alto-
gether here, Fanny being gone to Goodnestone for
a day or two, to attend the famous Fair, which makes
its yearly distribution of gold paper & coloured
Persian through all the Family connections. — In this
House there is a constant succession of small events,
somebody is always going or coming ; this morn* we
had Edw J Bridges unexpectedly to breakfast with us,
in his way from Ramsgate where is his wife, to Lenham
where is his church — & tomorrow he dines and sleeps
here on his return. — They have been all the summer
at Ramsgate, for her health, she is a poor Honey — the
sort of woman who gives me the idea of being deter-
mined never to be well — & who likes her spasms &
nervousness & the consequence they give her, better
than anything else. — This is an ill-natured sentiment
to send all over the Baltic ! — The Mr. Knatchbulls,
dear Mrs. Knights Brothers dined here the other day.
They came from the Friars, which is still on their
hands. — The Elder made many enquiries after you. —
Mr. Sherer is quite a new Mr. Sherer to me ; I heard
him for the first time last Sunday, & he gave us an
excellent Sermon — a little too eager sometimes in his
delivery, but that is to me a better extreme than the
want of animation, especially when it evidently comes
from the heart as in him. The Clerk is as much like
you as ever, I am always glad to see him on that
account. — But the Sherers are going away. He has
a bad Curate at Westwell, whom he can eject only by
residing there himself. He goes nominally for three
years, & a Mr. Paget is to have the curacy of G m — a
married Man, with a very musical wife, which I hope
may make her a desirable acquaintance to Fanny. —
( 339 )
85] From Godmersham to Francis Austen
I thank you very warmly for your kind consent to
my application & the kind hint which followed it. —
I was previously aware of what I sh d be laying myself
open to — but the truth is that the Secret has spread
so far as to be scarcely the Shadow of a secret now—
& that I beleive whenever the 3 d appears, I shall not
even attempt to tell Lies about it— I shall rather try
to make all the Money than all the Mystery I can of it.
— People shall pay for their knowledge if I can make
them.— Henry heard P. & P. warmly praised in Scot-
land, by Lady Rob 1 Kerr & another Lady & what
does he do in the warmth of his Brotherly vanity &
Love, but immediately tell them who wrote it ! A
Thing once set going in that way — one knows how it
spreads ! — and he, dear Creature, has set it going so
much more than once. I know it is all done from
affection & partiality — but at the same time, let me
here again express to you & Mary my sense of the
superior kindness which you have shewn on the occa-
sion, in doing what I wished.— I am trying to harden
myself. After all, what a trifle it is in all its Bearings,
to the really important points of one’s existence even
in this World ! }
I take it for granted that Mary has told you of Anna s
engagement to Ben Lefroy. It came upon us without
much preparation at the same time, there was that
about her which kept us in a constant preparation for
something.— We are anxious to have it go on well, there
being quite as much in his favour as the Chances are
likely to give her in any Matrimonial connection.
I beleive he is sensible, certainly very religious, well
connected & with some Independance.— There is an
unfortunate dissimularity of Taste between them in one
( 340 )
Saturday 25 September 1818 [85
respect which gives us some apprehensions, he hates
company & she is very fond of it ; — this, with some
queemess of Temper on his side & much unsteadiness
on hers, is untoward.
I hope Edward’s family-visit to Chawton will be
yearly, he certainly means it now, but we must not
expect it to exceed two months in future. — I do not
think however, that he found five too long this sum-
mer. — He was very happy there. The new Paint
improves this House much, and we find no evil from
the smell.
Poor Mr. Trimmer is lately dead, a sad loss to his
Family, & occasioning some anxiety to our Brother ; —
for the present he continues his Affairs in the Son’s
hands ; a matter of great consequence to them — I hope
he will have no reason to remove his Business. —
I remain
Your very affec te Sister,
J. Austen
There is to be a 2 d Edition of S. & S. Egerton
advises it.
86. To Cassandra Austen. Monday 11 Oct. 1813
Address : Miss Austen | Chawton | Alton | Hants
Postmarks : feversham and 13 oc 1813
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabourne ii. 169 ; Life 282 (extracts),
Godmersham Park Monday Qct r 11 th
My dearest At: Cass:
I have just asked At. Jane to let me write a little in
her letter, but she does not like it so I wont. — Good bye.
You will have Edward’s Letter tomorrow. He tells
me that he did not send you any news to interfere with
(841 )
86] From Godmersham to Chawton
mine, but I do not think there is much for anybody
to send at present. We had our dinner party on
Wed y with the addition of Mrs. & Miss Milles who were
under a promise of dining here in their return from
Eastwell whenever they paid their visit of duty there,
& it happened to be paid on that day. — Both Mother
& Daughter are much as I have always found them. —
I like the Mother, 1 st because she reminds me of
Mrs. Birch & 2 dly because she is chearful & grateful for
what she is at the age of 90 & upwards. — The day was
pleasant enough. I sat by Mr. Chisholme & we talked
away at a great rate about nothing worth hearing. —
It was a mistake as to the day of the Sherers going
being fixed ; they are ready but are waiting for Mr.
Paget’s answer. — I enquired of Mrs. Milles after
Jemima Brydges & was quite greived to hear that she
was obliged to leave Cant y some months ago on
account of her debts & is nobody knows where.— What
an unprosperous Family ! — On Saturday, soon after
breakfast Mr. J. P. left us for Norton Court. — I like
him very much.' — He gives me the idea of a very
amiable young Man, only too diffident to be so agre-
able as he might be. — He was out the cheif of each
morning with the other two — shooting & getting wet
through. — Tomorrow we are to know whether he & a
hundred young Ladies will come here for the Ball.—
I do not much expect any. — The Deedes’ cannot meet
us, they have Engagements at home. I will finish the
Deedes’ by saying that they are not likely to come
here till quite late in my stay— the very last week
perhaps — & I do not expect to see the Moores at all. —
They are not solicited till after Edward’s return from
Hampshire. Monday, Nov: 1 15 th is the day now fixed
(842 )
Monday 11 October 1813 [86
for our setting out. — Poor Basingstoke Races ! — there
seem to have been two particularly wretched days on
purpose for them & Weyhill week does not begin
much happier. — We were quite surprised by a Letter
from Anna at Tollard Royal last Saturday — but per-
fectly approve her going & only regret they should all
go so far, to stay so few days. We had Thunder &
Lighten 8 here on Thursday morn 8 between 5 & 7 — no
very bad Thunder, but a great deal of Light 8 . — It has
given the commencement of a season of wind & rain ;
& perhaps for the next 6 weeks we shall not have two
dry days together. — Lizzy is very much obliged to you
for your Letter & will answer it soon, but has so many
things to do that it may be four or five days before
she can. This is quite her own message, spoken in
rather a desponding tone. — Your Letter gave pleasure
to all of us, we had all the reading of it of course,
I three times — as I undertook to the great releif of
Lizzy, to read it to Sackree, & afterwards to Louisa. —
Sackree does not at all approve of Mary Doe & her
nuts — on the score of propriety rather than health. —
She saw some signs of going after her in George &
Henry, & thinks if you could give the girl a check, by
rather reproving her for taking anything seriously
about nuts which they said to her, it might be of use. —
This, of course, is between our three discreet selves —
a scene of triennial bliss. — Mrs. Britton called here on
Saturday. I never saw her before. She is a large,
ungenteel Woman, with self-satisfied & would-be
elegant manners. — We are certain of some visitors
tomorrow ; Edward Bridges comes for two nights in
his way from Lenham to Ramsgate & brings a friend —
name unknown — but supposed to be a Mr. Harpur,
( 343 )
From Godmersham to Chawton
a neighbouring Clergyman ; & Mr. R. Mascall is to
shoot with the young Men, which it is to be supposed
will end in his staying dinner. — On Thursday, Mr.
Lushington M.P. for Canterbury & Manager of the
Lodge Hounds, dines here & stays the night.— He is
cheifly Young Edward’s acquaintance. — If I can, I will
get a frank from him & write to you all the sooner.
I suppose the Ashford Ball will furnish something.—
As I wrote of my nephews with a little bitterness in
my last, I think it particularly incumbent on me to do
them justice now, & I have great pleasure in saying
that they were both at the Sacrament yesterday.
After having much praised or much blamed anybody,
one is generally sensible of something just the reverse
soon afterwards. Now, these two Boys who are out
with the Foxhounds will come home & disgust me
again by some habit of Luxury or some proof of
sporting Mania— unless I keep it off by this prediction.
— They amuse themselves very comfortably in the
even 8 — by netting ; they are each about a rabbit net,
& sit as deedily to it, side by side, as any two Uncle
Franks could do. — I am looking over Self Control
again, & my opinion is confirmed of its being an
excellently-meant, elegantly-written Work, without
anything of Nature or Probability in it. I declare I do
not know whether Laura’s passage down the American
River, is not the most natural, possible, everyday
thing she ever does. —
Tuesday— Dear me ! what is to become of me !
Such a long Letter ! Two & forty lines in the 2 d Page.
— Like Harriot Byron I ask, what am I to do with my
Gratitude ?— I can do nothing but thank you & go
on. — A few of your enquiries I think, are replied to
( 344 )
Monday 11 October 1813 [80
en avance. The name of F. Cage’s Draw* Master is
O’Neil. — We are exceedingly amused with your Shal-
den news & your self reproach on the subject of Mrs.
Stockwell, made me laugh heartily. I rather wondered
that Johncock, the only person in the room, could help
laughing too. — I had not heard before of her having
the Measles. Mrs. H & Alethea’s staying till friday
was quite new to me ; a good plan however. — I c d not
have settled it better myself, & am glad they found so
much in the house to approve — and I hope they will
ask Martha to visit them. — I admire the Sagacity &
Taste of Charlotte Williams. Those large dark eyes
always judge well. — I will compliment her, by naming
a Heroine after her. — Edward has had all the particu-
lars of the Building &c read to him twice over & seems
very well satisfied ; — a narrow door to the Pantry is
the only subject of solicitude— it is certainly just the
door which should not be narrow, on account of the
Trays — but if a case of necessity, it must be borne. —
I knew there was Sugar in the Tin, but had no idea of
there being enough to last through your Company.
All the better. — You ought not to think this new Loaf
better than the other, because that was the first of 5
which all came together. Something of fancy perhaps,
& something of Imagination. — Dear Mrs. Digweed ! —
I cannot bear that she sh d not be foolishly happy after
a Ball. — I hope Miss Yates & her companions were all
well the day after their arrival. — I am thoroughly
rejoiced that Miss Benn has placed herself in Lodgings
— tho’ I hope they may not be long necessary. — No
Letter from Charles yet. — Southey’s Life of Nelson ; —
I am tired of Lives of Nelson, being that I never read
any. I will read this however, if Frank is mentioned
(345 )
86] From Godmersham to Chawton
in it. — Here am I in Kent, with one Brother in the
same County & another Brother’s Wife, & see nothing
of them — which seems unnatural — It will not last so
for ever I trust. — I sh d like to have Mrs. F. A. & her
Children here for a week — but not a syllable of that
nature is ever breathed. — I wish her last visit had not
been so long a one. — I wonder whether Mrs. Tilson has
ever lain-in. Mention it, if it ever comes to your
knowledge, & we shall hear of it by the same post
from Henry. Mr. Rob. Mascall breakfasted here ; he
eats a great deal of Butter. — I dined upon Goose
yesterday, which I hope will secure a good Sale of my
2 d Edition. — Have you any Tomatas ? — Fanny & I
regale on them every day. — Disastrous Letters from
the Plumptres & Oxendens.— Refusals everywhere—
a Blank partout — & it is not quite certain whether we
go or not ; something may depend upon the disposi-
tion of Uncle Edward when he comes — & upon what
we hear at Chilham Castle this morn 8 — for we are going
to pay visits. We are going to each house at Chilham
& to Mystole. I shall like seeing the Faggs. — I shall
like it all, except that we are to set out so early that
I have not time to write as I would wish— Edw d
Bridges’s friend is a Mr. Hawker, I find, not Harpur.
I would not have you sleep in such an Error for the
W orld.
My brother desires his best Love & Thanks for all
your Information. He hopes the roots of the old
Beach have been dug away enough to allow a proper
covering of Mould & Turf— He is sorry for the neces-
sity of build 8 the new Coin— but hopes they will
contrive that the Doorway should be of the usual
width if it must be contracted on one side, by
( 346 )
Monday 11 October 1813 [86
widening it on the other. — The appearance need not
signify. — And he desires me to say that Your being at
Chawton when he is, will be quite necessary. You
cannot think it more indispensable than he does. He
is very much obliged to you for your attention to
everything. — Have you any idea of returning with
him to Henrietta S‘ & finishing your visit then ? —
Tell me your sweet little innocent Ideas.
Everything of Love & Kindness — proper and im-
proper, must now suffice.—
Y rs very affec ly J. Austen
87. To Cassandra Austen. Thursday 14 Oct. 1813
Address : Miss Austen | Chawton | Alton | Hants 1 Free R. Lush-
ington
Postmarks : feversbam and <oct> 16 1813
Harvard College Library. 3 leaves 4°.
Brabourne ii. 177 ; Life 283 (extracts).
Godmersham Park. Thursday Oct. 14
My dearest Cassandra
Now I will prepare for Mr. Lushington, & as it will
be wisest also to prepare for his not coming or my not
getting a frank I shall write very close from the first
& even leave room for the seal in the proper place. —
When I have followed up my last with this, I shall feel
somewhat less unworthy of you than the state of our
Correspondence now requires. I left off in a great
hurry to prepare for our morn 8 visits — of course was
ready a good deal the first, & need not have hurried so
much — Fanny wore her new gown & cap. — I was sur-
prised to find Mystole so pretty. The Ladies were at
home ; I was in luck, & saw Lady Fagg & all her five
( 347 )
87] From Godmersham to Chawlm
Daughters, with an old Mrs. Hamilton from Cant y &
Mrs. and Miss Chapman from Margate into the Bar-
gain. — I never saw so plain a family, five sisters so
very plain ! — They are as plain as the Foresters or the
Franfraddops or the Sea-graves or the Rivers’ ex-
cluding Sophy.— Miss Sally Fagg has a pretty figure,
& that comprises all the good Looks of the family. —
It was stupidish ; Fanny did her part very well, but
there was a lack of Talk altogether, & the three friends
in the House only sat by & looked at us. However
Miss Chapman’s name is Laura & she had a double
flounce to her gown.— You really must get some
flounces. Are not some of your large stock of white
morn* gowns just in a happy state for a flounce, too
short ? — Nobody at home at either House in Chilham.
—Edward Bridges & his friend did not forget to
arrive. The friend is a Mr. Wigram, one of the three
& twenty Children of a great rich mercantile Sir Robert
Wigram, an old acquaintance of the Footes, but very
recently known to Edw d B.— The history of his coming
here, is that intending to go from Ramsgate to
Brighton, Edw: B. persuaded him to take Lenham in
his way, which gave him the convenience of Mr. W.’s
gig & the comfort of not being alone there ; but
probably thinking a few days of G m would be the
cheapest & pleasantest way of entertaining his friend
& himself, offered a visit here, & here they stay till
tomorrow. Mr. W. is about 5or6& 20, not ill-looking
& not agreable. — He is certainly no addition.— A sort
of cool, gentlemanlike manner, but very silent.— They
say his name is Henry. A proof how unequally the
gifts of Fortune are bestowed. — I have seen many a
John & Thomas much more agreable. We have got
(348)
Thursday 14 October 1818 [87
rid of Mr. R. Mascall however ; — I did not like him
either. He talks too much & is conceited — besides
having a vulgarly shaped mouth. He slept here on
Tuesday ; so that yesterday Fanny & I sat down to
breakfast with six gentlemen to admire us. — We did
not go to the Ball. — It was left to her to decide, & at
last she determined against it. She knew that it would
be a sacrifice on the part of her Father & Brothers if
they went — & I hope it will prove that she has not
sacrificed much. — It is not likely that there sh d have
been anybody there, whom she wd care for . — I was very
glad to be spared the trouble of dressing & going &
being weary before it was half over, so my gown & my
cap are still unworn. — It will appear at last perhaps
that I might have done without either. — I produced
my Brown Bombasin yesterday & it was very much
admired indeed — & I like it better than ever : — You
have given many particulars of the state of Chawton
House, but still we want more. — Edward wants to be
expressly told that all the Round Tower &c. is entirely
down, & the door from the Best room stopt up ; — he
does not know enough of the appearance of things in
that quarter. — He heard from Bath yesterday. Lady B.
continues very well & D r Parry’s opinion is that while
the Water agrees with her she ought to remain there,
which throws their coming away at a greater Uncer-
tainty than we had supposed. — It will end perhaps in
a fit of the Gout which may prevent her coming away.
— Louisa thinks her Mother’s being so well may be
quite as much oweing to her being so much out of
doors, as to the Water. — Lady B. is going to try the
Hot pump ; the Cross Bath being about to be painted.
— Louisa is particularly well herself, & thinks the
( 849 )
87] From Godmersham to Chawton
Water has been of use to her. — She mentioned our
enquiries &c. to Mr. and Mrs. Alex: Evelyn, & had
their best Comp ts & Thanks to give in return. — Dr.
Parry does not expect Mr. E. to last much longer. —
Only think of Mrs. Holder’s being dead !— Poor
woman, she has done the only thing in the World she
could possibly do, to make one cease to abuse her. —
Now, if you please, Hooper must have it in his power
to do more by his Uncle. — -Lucky for the little girl ! —
An Anne Ekins can hardly be so unfit for the care of
a Child as a Mrs. Holder. A letter from Wrotham
yesterday, offering an early visit here ; — & Mr. & Mrs.
Moore & one Child are to come on Monday for 10 days.
— I hope Charles & Fanny may not fix the same time —
but if they come at all in October they must . What is
the use of hoping ? — The two parties of Children is the
chief Evil. To be sure, here we are, the very thing has
happened, or rather worse, a Letter from Charles this
very morn® which gives us reason to suppose they
may come here to day. It depends upon the weather,
& the weather now is very fine. — No difficulties are
made however & indeed there will be no want of room,
but I wish there were no Wigrams & Lushingtons in
the way to fill up the Table & make us such a motley
set. — I cannot spare Mr. Lushington either because of
his frank, but Mr. Wigram does no good to anybody. —
I cannot imagine how a Man can have the impudence
to come into a Family party for three Days, where he
is quite a stranger, unless he knows himself to be
agreable on undoubted authority. — He & Mr. Edw. B.
are going to ride to Eastwell — & as the Boys are hunt-
ing & my B r is gone to Cant y Fanny & I have a quiet
morn 8 before us. — Edward has driven off poor Mrs.
(850)
Thursday 14 October 1813 [87
Salkeld. — It was thought a good opportunity of doing
something towards clearing the House. — By her own
desire Mrs. Fanny is to be put in the room next the
Nursery, her Baby in a little bed by her ; — & as Cassy
is to have the Closet within & Betsey William’s little
Hole they will be all very snug together. — I shall be
most happy to see dear Charles, & he will be as happy
as he can with a cross Child or some such care pressing
on him at the time. — I should be very happy in the
idea of seeing little Cassy again too, did not I fear she
wd. disappoint me by some immediate disagreable-
ness. — We had the good old original Brett & Toke
calling here yesterday, separately. — Mr. Toke I am
always very fond of. He enquired after you & my
Mother, which adds Esteem to Passion. — The Charles
Cages are staying at Godington. — I knew they must be
staying somewhere soon. — Ed: Hussey is warned out
of Pett, & talks of fixing at Ramsgate. — Bad taste ! —
He is very fond of the Sea however ; — some Taste in
that — & some Judgement too in fixing on Ramsgate,
as being by the Sea. — The Comfort of the Billiard
Table here is very great. — It draws all the Gentlemen
to it whenever they are within, especially after Dinner,
so that my B r Fanny & I have the Library to ourselves
in delightful quiet. — There is no truth in the report of
G. Hatton being to marry Miss Wemyss. He desires
it may be contradicted. — Have you done anything
about our Present to Miss Benn ? — I suppose she must
have a bed at my Mothers whenever she dines there. —
How will they manage as to inviting her when you are
gone ? — & if they invite how they will contrive to
entertain her ? — Let me know as many of your parting
arrangements as you can, as to Wine &c. — I wonder
(851)
87] From Godmersham to Chawton
whether the Ink bottle has been filled. — Does Butcher’s
meat keep up at the same price ? and is not Bread
lower than 2/6. — Mary’s blue gown ! — My Mother
must be in agonies. — I have a great mind to have my
blue gown dyed some time or other — I proposed it
once to you & you made some objection, I forget
what. — It is the fashion of flounces that gives it
particular Expediency. — Mrs. & Miss Wildman have
just been here. Miss is very plain. I wish Lady B.
may be returned before we leave G m that Fanny may
spend the time of her Father’s absence, at Goodnestone,
which is what she would prefer.— Friday .— They
came, last night at about 7. We had given them up,
but I still expected them to come. Dessert was nearly
over ; — a better time for arriving than an hour & 1/2
earlier. They were late because they did not set out
earlier & did not allow time enough. — Charles did not
aim at more than reaching Sittingbourn by 3, which
cd. not have brought them here by dinner time. —
They had a very rough passage, he wd. not have
ventured if he had known how bad it wd be. However
here they are safe & well, just like their own nice
selves, Fanny looking as neat & white this morn* as
possible, & dear Charles all affectionate, placid, quiet,
chearful good humour. They are both looking very
well, but poor little Cassy is grown extremely thin &
looks poorly. — I hope a week’s Country air & exercise
may do her good. I am sorry to say it can be but
a week.— The Baby does not appear so large in propor-
tion as she was, nor quite so pretty, but I have seen
very little of her.— Cassy was too tired & bewildered
just at first to seem to know anybody— We met them
in the Hall, the Women & Girl part of us — but before
(352 )
Thursday 14 October 1818 [87
we reached the Library she kissed me very affec-
tionately — & has since seemed to recollect me in the
same way. It was quite an even® of confusion as you
may suppose — at first we were all walking about from
one part of the House to the other — then came a fresh
dinner in the Breakfast room for Charles & his wife,
which Fanny & I attended — then we moved into the
Library, were joined by the Dining room people, were
introduced & so forth. — & then we had Tea & Coffee
which was not over till past 10. — Billiards again drew
all the odd ones away, & Edw d Charles, the two Fannys
& I sat snugly talking. I shall be glad to have our
numbers a little reduced, & by the time you receive
this we shall be only a family, tho’ a large family
party. Mr. Lushington goes tomorrow.— Now I must
speak of him — & I like him very much. I am sure he
is clever & a Man of Taste. He got a vol. of Milton
last night & spoke of it with Warmth. — He is quite an
M.P. — very smiling, with an exceeding good address,
& readiness of Language. — I am rather in love with
him. — I dare say he is ambitious & Insincere. — He puts
me in Mind of Mr. Dundas — . He has a wide smiling
mouth & very good teeth, & something the same com-
plexion & nose. — He is a much shorter Man, with
Martha’s Leave. Does Martha never hear from Mrs.
Craven ? — Is Mrs. Craven never at home ? — We break-
fasted in the Dining room today & are now all pretty
well dispersed & quiet. — Charles & George are gone out
shooting together, to Winnigates & Seaton Wood —
I asked on purpose to tell Henry. Mr. Lushington &
Edw d are gone some other way.— I wish Charles may
kill something— but this high wind is against their
Sport. — Lady Williams is living at the Rose at Sitting-
(353)
87] From Godmersham to Chawton
bourn, they called upon her Yesterday ; she cannot
live at Sheerness & as soon as she gets to Sittingbourn
is quite well. — In return for all your Matches, I
announce that her Brother William is going to marry
a Miss Austen of a Wiltshire Family, who say they are
related to us. I talk to Cassy about Chawton ; she
remembers much but does not volunteer on the sub-
ject.— Poor little Love— I wish she were not so very
Palmery— but it seems stronger than ever.— I never
knew a wife’s family-features have such undue in-
fluence.— Papa & Mama have not yet made up their
mind as to parting with her or not — The cheif, indeed
the only difficulty with Mama is a very reasonable one,
the Child’s being very unwilling to leave them. When
it was mentioned to her, she did not like the idea of it
at all. At the same time, she has been suffering so
much lately from Sea sickness, that her Mama cannot
bear to have her much on board this winter. Charles
is less inclined to part with her.— I do not know how it
will end, or what is to determine it. He desires his
best Love to you & has not written because he has not
been able to decide.— They are both very sensible of
your Kindness on the occasion.— I have made Charles
furnish me with something to say about Young Ken-
dall —He is going on very well. When he first joined
the Namur, my B r did not find him forward enough
to be what they call put in the Office, & therefore
placed him under the Schoolmaster, but he is very
much improved, & goes into the Office now every
afternoon— still attending School in the morn . T
Cold weather comes very fortunately for Edwards
nerves with such a House full, it suits him exactly, he
is all alive & chearful. Poor James, on the contraiy,
( 354 )
Thursday 14 October 1818 [87
must be running his Toes into the fire. I find that
Mary Jane Fowle was very near returning with her B r
& paying them a visit on board — I forget exactly what
hindered her — I beleive their Cheltenham scheme —
I am glad something did. — They are to go to Chelten-
ham on Monday se’night. I don’t vouch for their
going you know, it only comes from one of the Family.
— Now I think I have written you a good sized Letter
& may deserve whatever I can get in reply. — Infinities
of Love. I must distinguish that of Fanny Sen r : —
who particularly desires to be remembered to you all.
— Yours very affec ly
J. Austen
88. To Cassandra Austen. Thursday 21 Oct. <1813)
Address (Brabourne) : Miss Austen, 10 Henrietta St., | Covent
Garden, London
Original not traced.
Brabourne ii. 189 ; Life 285 (extract).
Godmersham Park Oct. 18
My dear Aunt Cassandra
I am very much obliged to you for your long letter
and for the nice account of Chawton. We are all very
glad to hear that the Adams are gone, and hope Dame
Libscombe will be more happy now with her deaffy
child, as she calls it, but I am afraid there is not much
chance of her remaining long sole mistress of her
house.
I am sorry you had not any better news to send us
of our hare, poor little thing ! I thought it would not
live long in that Pondy House ; I don’t wonder that
Mary Doe is very sorry it is dead, because we promised
( 355 )
88] From Godmersham to Henrietta St.
her that if it was alive when we came back to Chawton,
we would reward her for her trouble.
Papa is much obliged to you for ordering the
scrubby firs to be cut down ; I think he was rather
frightened at first about the great oak. Fanny quite
believed it, for she exclaimed ‘ Dear me, what a pity,
how could they be so stupid ! ’ I hope by this time
they have put up some hurdles for the sheep, or turned
out the cart-horses from the lawn.
Pray tell grandmamma that we have begun getting
seeds for her ; I hope we shall be able to get her a nice
collection, but I am afraid this wet weather is very
much against them. How glad I am to hear she has
had such good success with her chickens, but I wish
there had been more bantams amongst them. I am
very sorry to hear of poor Lizzie s fate.
j must now tell you something about our poor
people. I believe you know old Mary Croucher, she
gets maderer and maderer every day. Aunt Jane has
been to see her, but it was on one of her rational days.
Poor Will Amos hopes your skewers are doing well ;
he has left his house in the poor Row, and lives in
a barn at Builting. We asked him why he went away,
and he said the fleas were so starved when he came
back from Chawton that they all flew upon him and
eenermost eat him up. _
How unlucky it is that the weather is so wet ! Poor
uncle Charles has come home half drowned every
day. . ,
I don’t think little Fanny is quite so pretty as she
was ; one reason is because she wears short petticoats,
I believe. I hope Cook is better ; she was very unwell
the day we went away. Papa has given me half-a-
( 356 )
Thursday 21 October 1813 [88
dozen new pencils, which are very good ones indeed ;
I draw every other day. I hope you go and whip Lucy
Chalcraft every night.
Miss Clewes begs me to give her very best respects
to you ; she is very much obliged to you for your kind
enquiries after her. Pray give my duty to grand-
mamma and love to Miss Floyd. I remain, my dear
Aunt Cassandra, your very affectionate niece,
Elizth. Knight
Thursday . — I think Lizzy’s letter will entertain you.
Thank you for yours just received. To-morrow shall
be fine if possible. You will be at Guildford before
our party set off. They only go to Key Street, as
Mr. Street the Purser lives there, and they have
promised to dine and sleep with him.
Cassy’s looks are much mended. She agrees pretty
well with her cousins, but is not quite happy among
them ; they are too many and too boisterous for her.
I have given her your message, but she said nothing,
and did not look as if the idea of going to Chawton
again was a pleasant one. They have Edward’s
carriage to Ospringe.
I think I have just done a good deed — extracted
Charles from his wife and children upstairs, and made
him get ready to go out shooting, and not keep
Mr. Moore waiting any longer.
Mr. and Mrs. Sherer and Joseph dined here yester-
day very prettily. Edw. and Geo. were absent — gone
for a night to Eastling. The two Fannies went to
Canty, in the morning, and took Lou. and Cass, to try
on new stays. Harriot and I had a comfortable walk
together. She desires her best love to you and kind
remembrance to Henry. Fanny’s best love also. I
( 357 )
88] From Godmershcm to Henrietta St.
fancy there is to be another party to Canty, to-morrow
— Mr. and Mrs. Moore and me.
Edward thanks Henry for his letter. We are most
happy to hear he is so much better. I depend upon
you for letting me know what he wishes as to my
staying with him or not ; you will be able to find out,
I dare say. I had intended to beg you would bring
one of my nightcaps with you, in case of my staying,
but forgot it when I wrote on Tuesday. Edward is
much concerned about his pond : he cannot now
doubt the fact of its running out, which he was
resolved to do as long as possible.
I suppose my mother will like to have me write to
her. I shall try at least.
No ; I have never seen the death of Mrs. Crabbe.
I have only just been making out from one of his
prefaces that he probably was married. It is almost
ridiculous. Poor woman ! I will comfort him as well
as I can, but I do not undertake to be good to her
children. She had better not leave any.
Edw. and Geo. set off this day week for Oxford.
Our party will then be very small, as the Moores will
be going about the same time. To enliven us, Fanny
proposes spending a few days soon afterwards at
Fredville. It will really be a good opportunity, as her
father will have a companion. We shall all three go
to Wrotham, but Edwd. and I stay only a night
perhaps. Love to Mr. Tilson.
Yours very affectionately, J* A.
( 358 )
Tuesday 26 October 1818
[89
89. To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday 26 Oct. 1813
Address : Miss Austen 10 Henrietta Street | Covent Garden London.
Postmark: 27 oc 1813
Mrs. Henry Burke.
Braboume ii. 194 ; Lije 285 (extracts).
Godmersham Park Tuesday. Oct: 26.
My dearest Cassandra
You will have had such late accounts from this
place as (I hope) to prevent your expecting a Letter
from me immediately, as I really do not think I have
wherewithal to fabricate one today. I suspect this
will be brought to you by our nephews, tell me if it is.
—It is a great pleasure to me to think of you with
Henry, I am sure your time must pass most comfort-
ably & I trust you are seeing improvement in him
every day. — I shall be most happy to hear from you
again. Your Saturday’s Letter however was quite as
long & as particular as I could expect. — I am not at all
in a humour for writing ; I must write on till I am. —
I congratulate Mr. Tilson & hope everything is going
on well. Fanny & I depend upon knowing what the
Child’s name is to be, as soon as you can tell us. I guess
Caroline. — Our Gentlemen are all gone to their Sitting-
bourne Meeting, East & West Kent in one Barouche
together — rather — West Kent driving East Kent. —
I believe that is not the usual way of the County. We
breakfasted before 9 & do not dine till \ past 6 on the
occasion, so I hope we three shall have a long Morning
enough. — M r Deedes & Sir Brook — I do not care for
Sir Brook’s being a Baronet I will put M r Deedes first
{ 359 )
89] From Godmersham to Henrietta St.
because I like him a great deal the best — they arrived
together yesterday — for the Bridges’ are staying at
Sandling — just before dinner I both Gentlemen much
as they used to be, only growing a little older. They
leave us tomorrow. — You were clear of Guildford by
half an hour & were winding along the pleasant road
to Ripley when the Charleses set of! on friday. — I hope
we shall have a visit from them at Chawton in the
spring or early part of the summer. They seem well
inclined. Cassy had recovered her looks almost en-
tirely, and I find they do not consider the ‘ Namur ’ as
disagreeing with her in general, only when the weather
is so rough as to make her sick.
Our Canterbury scheme took place as proposed, and
very pleasant it was — Harriot and I and little George
within, my brother on the box with the master coach-
man. I was most happy to find my brother included in
the party. It was a great improvement, and he and
Harriot and I walked about together very happily,
while Mr. Moore took his little boy with him to tailor’s
and hair-cutter’s.
Our chief business was to call on Mrs. Milles, and we
had, indeed, so little else to do that we were obliged to
saunter about anywhere and go backwards and for-
wards as much as possible to make out the time and
keep ourselves from having two hours to sit with the
good lady — a most extraordinary circumstance in a
Canterbury morning.
Old Toke came in while we were paying our visit.
I thought of Louisa. Miss Milles was queer as usual,
and provided us with plenty to laugh at. She under-
took in three words to give us the history of Mrs. Scuda-
more’s reconciliation, and then talked on about it for
( 860 )
Tuesday 26 October 1818 [89
half-an-hour, using such odd expressions, and so
foolishly minute, that I could hardly keep my counte-
nance. The death of Wyndham Knatchbull’s son will
rather supersede the Scudamores. I told her that he
was to be buried at Hatch. She had heard, with
military honours, at Portsmouth. We may guess how
that point will be discussed evening after evening.
Owing to a difference of clocks the coachman did
not bring the carriage so soon as he ought by half-an-
hour; anything like a breach of punctuality was
a great offence, and Mr. Moore was very angry, which
I was rather glad of. I wanted to see him angry ;
and, though he spoke to his servant in a very loud
voice and with a good deal of heat, I was happy to
perceive that he did not scold Harriot at all. Indeed,
there is nothing to object to in his manners to her, and
I do believe that he makes her — or she makes herself —
very happy. They do not spoil their boy.
It seems now quite settled that we go to Wrotham
on Saturday, the 13th, spend Sunday there, and pro-
ceed to London on Monday, as before intended. I like
the plan. I shall be glad to see Wrotham. Harriot is
quite as pleasant as ever. We are very comfortable
together, and talk over our nephews and nieces occa-
sionally, as may be supposed, and with much unani-
mity ; and I really like Mr. M. better than I expected
— see less in him to dislike.
I begin to perceive that you will have this letter to-
morrow. It is throwing a letter away to send it by
a visitor ; there is never convenient time for reading
it, and visitor can tell most things as well. I had
thought with delight of saving you the postage, but
money is dirt. If you do not regret the loss of Oxford-
( 361 )
89 ]
From Godmersham to Henrietta St.
shire and Gloucestershire I will not, though I certainly
had wished for your going very much. ‘ Whatever is,
is best.’ There has been one infallible Pope in the
world.
George Hatton called yesterday, and I saw him, saw
him for ten minutes ; sat in the same room with him,
heard him talk, saw him bow, and was not in raptures.
I discerned nothing extraordinary. I should speak of
him as a gentlemanlike young man — eh ! bien tout est
dit. We are expecting the ladies of the family this
morning.
How do you like your flounce ? We have seen only
plain flounces. I hope you have not cut off the train of
your bombazin. X cannot reconcile myself to giving
them up as morning gowns ; they are so very sweet
by candlelight. I would rather sacrifice my blue one
for that purpose ; in short, I do not know and I do
rxot c^rc#
Thursday or Friday are now mentioned from Bath
as the day of setting off. The Oxford scheme is given
up. They will go directly to Harefield. Fanny does
not go to Fredville, not yet at least.
She has had a letter of excuse from Mary Plumptre
to-day. The death of Mr. Ripley, their uncle by
marriage, and Mr. P.’s very old friend, prevents their
receiving her. Poor blind Mrs. Ripley must be felt
for, if there is any feeling to be had for love or money.
We have had another of Edward Bndges Sunday
visits. I think the pleasantest part of his married li e
must be the dinners, and breakfasts, and luncheons,
and billiards that he gets in this way at Cm Poor
wretch ! he is quite the dregs of the family as tc . luc.
I long to know whether you are buying stock gs
( 862 )
Tuesday 26 October 1818 [89
or what you are doing. Remember me most kindly
to Mde. B . and Mrs. Perigord. Y ou will get acquainted
with my friend, Mr. Philips, and hear him talk from
books, and be sure to have something odd happen to
you, see somebody that you do not expect, meet with
some surprise or other, find some old friend sitting
with Henry when you come into the room. Do some-
thing clever in that way. Edward and I settled that
you went to St. Paul’s, Covent Garden, on Sunday.
Mrs. Hill will come and see you, or else she won’t come
and see you and will write instead.
I have had a late account from Steventon, and
a baddish one, as far as Ben is concerned. He has
declined a curacy (apparently highly eligible), which
he might have secured against his taking orders ; and,
upon its being made rather a serious question, says he
has not made up his mind as to taking orders so early,
and that, if her father makes a point of it, he must
give Anna up rather than do what he does not approve.
He must be maddish. They are going on again at
present as before — but it cannot last. — Mary says that
Anna is very unwilling to go to Chawton & will get
home again as soon as she can. — Good-bye. Accept
this indifferent Letter & think it Long & Good. — Miss
Clewes is better for some prescription of Mr. Scuda-
mores & indeed seems tolerably stout now. — I find
time in the midst of Port & Madeira to think of the 14
Bottles of Mead very often. — Yours very affec ly J. A.
Lady Elizabeth her second Daughter & the two
M rs Finches have just left us. — The two Latter
friendly & talking & pleasant as usual.
Harriot and Fanny’s best love.
( 863 )
90] From Godmersham to Henrietta St.
90. To Cassandra Austen.
Wednesday 3 Nov. 1818
Address : Miss Austen 1 10. Henrietta Street | Covent Garden |
London
Postmarks : feversham and 4 no 1813
Pierpont Morgan Library, 2 leaves 4°.
Btaboume ii. 200 ; Life 287 (extracts).
Godmersham Park Wednesday Nov r 8 d .
My dearest Cassandra
I will keep this celebrated Birthday by writing to
you, & as my pen seems inclined to write large I will
put my lines very close together. — I had but just time
to enjoy your Letter yesterday before Edward & I set
off in the Chair for Cant y — & I allowed him to hear the
cheif of it as we went along. We rejoice sincerely in
Henry’s gaining ground as he does, & hope there will
be weather for him to get out every day this week, as
the likeliest way of making him equal to what he plans
for the next. — If he is tolerably well, the going into
Oxfordshire will make him better, by making him
happier— Can it be, that I have not given you the
minutiae of Edward’s plans ? — See here they are To
go to Wrotham on Saturday ye 13 th , spend Sunday
there, & be in Town on Monday to dinner, & if agreable
to Henry, spend one whole day with him — which day
is likely to be Tuesday, & so go down to Chawton on
Wednesday— But now, I cannot be quite easy without
staying a little while with Henry, unless he wishes it
otherwise ; — his illness & the dull time of year together
make me feel that it would be horrible of me not to
offer to remain with him — & therefore, unless you
know of any objection, I wish you would tell him with
my best Love that I shall be most happy to spend
(364 )
Wednesday 8 November 1818 [90
10 days or a fortnight in Henrietta S‘ — if he will accept
me. I do not offer more than a fortnight because
I shall then have been some time from home, but it
will be a great pleasure to be with him, as it always is.
— I have the less regret & scruple on your account,
because I shall see you for a day and a half, & because
you will have Edward for at least a week. — My scheme
is to take Bookham in my way home for a few days
& my hope that Henry will be so good as to send me
some part of the way thither. 1 have a most kind
repetition of Mrs. Cooke’s two or three dozen Invita-
tions, with the offer of meeting me anywhere in one
of her airings. — Fanny’s cold is much better. By
dosing & keeping her room on Sunday, she got rid of
the worst of it, but I am rather afraid of what this day
may do for her ; she is gone to Cant y with Miss Clewes,
Liz. & Ma. and it is but roughish weather for any one
in a tender state. — Miss Clewes has been going to
Cant y ever since her return, & it is now just accom-
plishing. Edward & I had a delightful morn* for our
Drive there, I enjoyed it thoroughly, but the Day
turned off before we were ready, & we came home in
some rain & the apprehension of a great deal. It has
not done us any harm however. — He went to inspect
the Gaol, as a visiting Magistrate, & took me with
him. — I was gratified— & went through all the feelings
which People must go through — I think in visiting
such a Building. — We paid no other visits — only
walked about snugly together & shopp’d. — I bought
a Concert Ticket & a sprig of flowers for my old age. —
To vary the subject from Gay to Grave with inimitable
address I shall now tell you something of the Bath
party — & still a Bath party they are, for a fit of the
( 865 )
90] From Godmersham to Henrietta St.
Gout came on last week. — The accounts of Lady B.
are as good as can be under such a circumstance,
Dr. P. — says it appears a good sort of Gout, & her
spirits are better thanusual,butas to her coming away,
it is of course all uncertainty. — I have very little doubt
of Edward’s going down to Bath, if they have not left
it when he is in Hampshire ; if he does, he will go on
from Steventon, & then return direct to London,
without coming back to Chawton. — This detention
does not suit his feelings. — It may be rather a good
thing however that Dr. P. should see Lady B. with the
Gout on her. Harriot was quite wishing for it. — The
day seems to improve. I wish my pen would too.—
Sweet Mr. Ogle. I dare say he sees all the Panoramas
for nothing, has free-admittance everywhere ; he is so
delightful ! — Now, you need not see anybody else.—
I am glad to hear of our being likely to have a peep at
Charles & Fanny at Christmas, but do not force poor
Cass, to stay if she hates it.— You have done very
right as to Mrs. F. A. — Your tidings of S & S. give me
pleasure. I have never seen it advertised. — Harriot,
in a Letter to Fanny today, enquires whether they sell
Cloths for Pelisses at Bedford House — & if they do,
will be very much obliged to you to desire them to
send her down Patterns, with the Width & Prices—
they may go from Charing Cross almost any day in the
week. — but if it is a ready money house it will not do,
for the Bru of feu the Archbishop says she cannot pay
for it immediately. — Fanny & I suspect they do not
deal in the Article— The Sherers I beleive are now
really going to go, Joseph has had a Bed here the two
last nights, & I do not know whether this is not the
day of moving. Mrs. Sherer called yesterday to take
(366)
Wednesday 8 November 1818 [90
leave. The weather looks worse again. — We dine at
Chilham Castle tomorrow, & I expect to find some
amusement ; but more from the Concert the next day,
as I am sure of seeing several that I want to see. We
are to meet a party from Goodnestone, Lady B. Miss
Hawley & Lucy Foote — & I am to meet Mrs. Harrison,
& we are to talk about Ben & Anna. ‘ My dear Mrs.
Harrison, I shall say, I am afraid the young Man has
some of your Family Madness — & though there often
appears to be something of Madness in Anna too,
I think she inherits more of it from her Mother’s
family than from ours.’ — That is what I shall say— &
I think she will find it difficult to answer me. — I took
up your letter again to Refresh me, being somewhat
tired ; & was struck with the prettiness of the hand ;
it is really a very pretty hand now & then— so small
& so neat ! — I wish I could get as much into a sheet
of paper. — Another time I will take two days to make
a Letter in ; it is fatiguing to write a whole long one
at once. I hope to hear from you again on Sunday
& again on friday, the day before we move. — On Mon*
day I suppose you will be going to Streatham, to see
quiet Mr. Hill & eat very bad Baker’s bread. — A fall
in Bread by the bye. I hope my Mother’s Bill next
week will shew it. I have had a very comfortable
Letter from her, one of her foolscap sheets quite full
of little home news. — Anna was there the first of the
two Days — . An Anna sent away & an Anna fetched
are different things. — This will be an excellent time
for Ben to pay his visit — now that we, the formidables,
are absent. I did not mean to eat, but Mr. Johncock
has brought in the Tray, so I must. — I am all alone.
Edward is gone into his Woods. — At this present time
( 367 )
90] From Godmersham to Henrietta St.
I have five Tables, Eight & twenty Chairs & two fires
all to myself. — Miss Clewes is to be invited to go to
the Concert with us, there will be my Brother’s place
& ticket for her, as he cannot go. He & the other
connections of the Cages are to meet at Milgate that
very day, to consult about a proposed alteration of
the Maidstone road, in which the Cages are very much
interested. Sir Brook comes here in the morn g , & they
are to be joined by Mr. Deedes at Ashford. — The loss
of the Concert will be no great evil to the Squire. —
We shall be a party of three Ladies therefore — & to
meet three Ladies. — What a convenient Carriage
Henry’s is, to his friends in general ! — Who has it
next ? — I am glad William’s going is voluntary, & on
no worse grounds. An inclination for the Country is
a venial fault. — He has more of Cowper than of
J ohnson in him, fonder of Tame Hares & Blank verse
than of the full tide of human Existence at Charing
Cross. — Oh ! I have more of such sweet flattery from
Miss Sharp ! — She is an excellent kind friend. I am
read & admired in Ireland too. — There is a Mrs.
Fletcher, the wife of a Judge, an old Lady & very
good & very clever, who is all curiosity to know about
me — what I am like & so forth — . I am not known to
her by name however. This comes through Mrs.
Carrick, not through Mrs. Gore — You are quite out
there. — I do not despair of having my picture in the
Exhibition at last — all white & red, with my Head on
one Side ; — or perhaps I may marry young Mr.
D’arblay.— I suppose in the meantime I shall owe dear
Henry a great deal of Money for Printing &c. — I hope
Mrs. Fletcher will indulge herself with S & S. — If I am
to stay in H. S* & if you should be writing home soon
( 868 )
Wednesday 8 November 1818
[90
I wish you w d be so good as to give a hint of it — for I
am not likely to write there again these 10 days, having
written yesterday.
Fanny has set her heart upon it’s being a Mr. Brett
who is going to marry a Miss Dora Best of this
Country. I dare say Henry has no objection. Pray,
where did the Boys sleep ? —
The Deedes’ come here on Monday to stay till
friday — so that we shall end with a flourish the last
Canto. — They bring Isabella & one of the Grown ups —
& will come in for a Cant y Ball on Thursday. — I shall
be glad to see them. — Mrs. Deedes & I must talk
rationally together I suppose.
Edward does not write to Henry, because of my
writing so often. God bless you. I shall be so glad to
see you again, & I wish you many happy returns of
this Day. — Poor Lord Howard ! How he does cry
about it !— v „ . ,
Y rB very truly
J. A.
91. To Cassandra Austen. Saturday 6 Nov. <1813)
Address : Miss Austen 1 10. Henrietta Street | Co vent Garden |
London
Postmark : fevers ham. The dated postmark illegible.
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Braboume ii. 209 ; Life 288 (extracts).
Saturday Nov r 6 — Godmersham Park
My dearest Cassandra
Having half an hour before breakfast — (very snug,
in my own room, lovely morn 8 , excellent fire, fancy
me) I will give you some account of the last two days.
And yet, what is there to be told ? I shall get foolishly
minute unless I cut the matter short. — We met only
( 369 ) Bb
91] From Godmersham to Henrietta St.
the Brittons at Chilham Castle, besides a Mr. & Mrs.
Osborne & a Miss Lee staying in the House, & were
only 14 altogether. My B r & Fanny thought it the
pleasantest party they had ever known there & I was
very well entertained by bits & scraps. — I had long
wanted to see Dr. Britton, & his wife amuses me very
much with her affected refinement & elegance. — Miss
Lee I found very conversible ; she admires Crabbe as
she ought. — She is at an age of reason, ten years older
than myself at least. She was at the famous Ball at
Chilham Castle, so of course you remember her.— By
the bye, as I must leave off being young, I find many
Douceurs in being a sort of Chaperon for I am put on
the Sofa near the Fire & can drink as much wine as I
like. We had Music in the Even 8 , Fanny & Miss Wild-
man played, & Mr. James Wildman sat close by &
listened, or pretended to listen. — Yesterday was a day
of dissipation all through, first came Sir Brook to
dissipate us before breakfast — then there was a call
from Mr. Sherer, then a regular morn 8 visit from Lady
Honeywood in her way home from Eastwell — then
Sir Brook & Edward set off — then we dined (5 in
number) at \ past 4 — then we had coffee, & at 6 Miss
Clewes, Fanny & I draved away. We had a beautiful
night for our frisks. — We were earlier than we need
have been, but after a time Lady B. & her two com-
panions appeared, we had kept places for them & there
we sat, all six in a row, under a side wall, I between
Lucy Foote & Miss Clewes.— Lady B. was much what
I expected, I could not determine whether she was
rather handsome or very plain. — I liked her, for being
in a hurry to have the Concert over & get away, & for
getting away at last with a great deal of decision &
Saturday 6 November 1818 [91
promtness, not waiting to compliment & dawdle &
fuss about seeing dear Fanny, who was half the even 8
in another part of the room with her friends the
Plumptres. I am growing too minute, so I will go to
Breakfast.
When the Concert was over, Mrs. Harrison & I
found each other out & had a very comfortable little
complimentary friendly chat. She is a sweet Woman,
still quite a sweet Woman in herself, & so like her
Sister ! — I could almost have thought I was speaking
to Mrs. Lefroy. — She introduced me to her Daughter,
whom I think pretty, but most dutifully inferior to
la Mere Beaute. The Faggs & the Hammonds were
there, W m Hammond the only young Man of renown.
Miss looked very handsome, but I prefer her little,
smiling, flirting Sister Julia. — I was just introduced
at last to Mary Plumptre, but should hardly know her
again. She was delighted with me however, good
enthusiastic Soul ! — And Lady B. found me handsomer
than she expected, so you see I am not so very bad as
you might think for. — It was 12 before we reached
home. We were all dog-tired, but pretty well to-day,
Miss Clewes says she has not caught cold, & Fanny’s
does not seem worse. I was so tired that I began to
wonder how I should get through the Ball next
Thursday, but there will be so much more variety
then in walking about, & probably so much less heat
that perhaps I may not feel it more. My China Crape
is still kept for the Ball. Enough of the Concert.—
I had a Letter from Mary Yesterday. They travelled
down to Cheltenham last Monday very safely & are
certainly to be there a month. — Bath is still Bath.
The H. Bridges’ must quit them early next week, &
(371)
91 ] From Godmersham to Henrietta St.
Louisa seems not quite to despair of their all moving
together, but to those who see at a distance there
appears no chance of it. — Dr. Parry does not want to
keep Lady B. at Bath when she can once move. That
is lucky. — You will see poor Mr. Evelyn s death. Since
I wrote last, my 2 d Edit, has stared me in the face.—
Mary tells me that Eliza means to buy it. I wish she
may. It can hardly depend upon any more Fyfield
Estates.— I cannot help hoping that many will feel
themselves obliged to buy it. I shall not mind
imagining it a disagreable Duty to them, so as they
do it. Mary heard before she left home, that it was
very much admired at Cheltenham, & that it was
given to Miss Hamilton. It is pleasant to have such
a respectable Writer named. I cannot tire you I am
sure on this subject, or I would apologise.— What
weather 1 & what news I— We have enough to do to
admire them both.— I hope you derive your full share
of enjoyment from each.
I have extended my Lights and increased my
acquaintance a good deal within these two days.
Lady Honeywood, you know;— I did not sit near
enough to be a perfect Judge, but I thought her
extremely pretty & her manners have all the recom-
mendations of ease & goodhumour & unaffectedness ;
— & going about with 4 Horses, & nicely dressed her-
self — she is altogether a perfect sort of Woman.— Oh
& I saw Mr. Gipps last night— the useful Mr. Gipps,
whose attentions came in as acceptably to us in han -
ine us to the Carriage, for want of a better Man, as ey
did to Emma Plumptre. — I thought him rather a good-
looking little Man.— I long for your Letter tomorrow,
particularly that I may know my fate as to London.
P ( 872 )
Saturday 6 November 1813 [91
My first wish is that Henry sh d really chuse what he
likes best ; I shall certainly not be sorry if he does not
want me. — Morning church tomorrow. I shall come
back with impatient feelings. The Sherers are gone,
but the Pagets are not come, we shall therefore have
Mr. S. again. Mr. Paget acts like an unsteady Man.
Dr. Mant however gives him a very good Character ;
what is wrong is to be imputed to the Lady. — I dare
say the House likes Female Government.— I have
a nice long Black & red Letter from Charles, but not
communicating much that I did not know. There is
some chance of a good Ball next week, as far as
Females go. Lady Bridges may perhaps be there with
some Knatchbulls.— Mrs. Harrison perhaps with Miss
Oxenden & the Miss Papillons — & if Mrs. Harrison,
then Lady Fagg will come. The shades of Evening
are descending & I resume my interesting Narrative.
Sir Brook & my Brother came back about 4, & Sir
Brook almost immediately set forward again for Good-
nestone.— We are to have Edw 4 B. tomorrow, to pay
us another Sunday’s visit — the last, for more reasons
than one \ they all come home on the same day that
we go.— The Deedes’ do not come till Tuesday.
Sophia is to be the Comer. She is a disputable Beauty
that I want much to see. Lady Eliz. Hatton & Anna-
maria called here this morn® ; — Yes, they called, — but
I do not think I can say anything more about them.
They came & they sat & they went.— Sunday.—
Dearest Henry ! What a turn he has for being ill !
& what a thing Bile is !— This attack has probably
been brought on in part by his previous confinement
& anxiety ; — but however it came, I hope it is going
fast, & that you will be able to send a very good
(373)
91] From Godmersham to Henrietta St.
account of him on Tuesday. — As I hear on Wednesday,
of course I shall not expect to hear again on friday.
Perhaps a Letter to Wrotham would not have an ill
effect. We are to be off on Saturday before the Post
comes in, as Edward takes his own Horses all the way.
He talks of 9 o’clock. We shall bait at Lenham.
Excellent sweetness of you to send me such a nice long
Letter ; — it made its appearance, with one from my
Mother, soon after I & my impatient feelings walked
in. — How glad I am that I did what I did ! — I was only
afraid that you might think the offer superfluous, but
you have set my heart at ease. — Tell Henry that I will
stay with him, let it be ever so disagreable to him.
Oh ! dear me ! — I have not time or paper for half that
I want to say. — There have been two Letters from
Oxford, one from George yesterday. They got there
very safely, Edw d two hours behind the Coach, having
lost his way in leaving London. George writes cheer-
fully & quietly — hopes to have Utterson’s rooms soon,
went to Lecture on Wednesday, states some of his
expences, and concludes with saying, ‘ I am afraid I shall
be poor.’ — I am glad he thinks about it so soon.— I
beleive there is no private Tutor yet chosen, but my
Brother is to hear from Edw a on the subject shortly.—
You, & Mrs. H. & Catherine & Alethea going about
together in Henry’s carriage seeing sights ! — I am not
used to the idea of it yet. All that you are to see of
Streatham, seen already ! — Your Streatham & my
Bookham may go hang— The prospect of being taken
down to Chawton by Henry, perfects the plan to me. —
I was in hopes of your seeing some illuminations, &
you have seen them. ‘ I thought you would came, and
you did came.’ I am sorry he is not to came from the
( 874)
Saturday 6 November 1813 [91
Baltic sooner.— Poor Mary 1— My Brother has a Letter
from Louisa today, of an unwelcome nature they are
to spend the winter at Bath.— It was just decided on.
—Dr. Parry wished it,— not from thinking the Water
necessary to Lady B. — but that he might be better able
to judge how far his Treatment of her, which is totally
different from anything she had been used to— is right ;
& I suppose he will not mind having a few more of her
Ladyship’s guineas. — His system is a Lowering one.
He took twelve ounces of Blood from her when the
Gout appeared, & forbids wine &c. — Hitherto, the plan
agrees with her —She is very well satisfied to stay, but
it is a sore disappointment to Louisa & Fanny. —
The H. Bridges leave them on Tuesday, & they
mean to move into a smaller House. You may guess
how Edward feels. — There can be no doubt of his
going to Bath now ; — I should not wonder if he
brought Fanny Cage back with him. You shall hear
from me once more, some day or other.
Yours very affec: ly J. A.
We do not like Mr. Hampson’s scheme.
92. To Cassandra Austen. Wednesday 2 March <1814)
Address : To Miss Austen | Chawton | By favour of E. H. Gray Esq
Postmark : none.
E. G. Millar ; formerly in the collection described in Times Literary
Supplement 14 Jan. 1926.
Memoir i 104 (extracts) ; Life 291 (extracts). Part unpublished.
Henrietta S l Wednesday March 2 d
My dear Cassandra
You were wrong in thinking of us at Guildford last
night: we were at Cobham. On reaching G. we found
( 375 )
92] From Henrietta St. to Chawton
that John and the horses were gone on. We therefore
did no more there than we had done at Farnham — sit
in the carriage while fresh horses were put in, and
proceeded directly to Cobham, which we reached by
seven, and about eight were sitting down to a very
nice roast fowl, &c. We had altogether a very good
journey, and everything at Cobham was comfortable.
I could not pay Mr. Herington ! That was the only
alas ! of the business. I shall therefore return his bill,
and my mother’s 21, that you may try your luck. We
did not begin reading till Bentley Green. Henry’s
approbation hitherto is even equal to my wishes. He
says it is very different from the other two, but does
not appear to think it at all inferior. He has only
married Mrs. R. I am afraid he has gone through the
most entertaining part. He took to Lady B. and
Mrs. N. most kindly, and gives great praise to the draw-
ing of the characters. He understands them all, likes
Fanny, and, I think, foresees how it will all be. 1
finished the ‘ Heroine ’ last night, and was very much
amused by it. I wonder James did not like it better.
It diverted me exceedingly. We went to bed at ten.
I was very tired, but slept to a miracle, and am lovely
to-day, and at present Henry seems to have no com-
plaint. We left Cobham at half-past eight, stopped to
bait and breakfast at Kingston, and were in this house
considerably before two quite in the style of Mr.
Knight. Nice smiling Mr. Barlowe met us at the door
and, in reply to enquiries after news, said that peace
was generally expected. I have taken possession of
my bedroom, unpacked my bandbox, sent Miss P. s
two letters to the twopenny post, been visited by
M d B., and am now writing by myself at the new table
(876)
Wednesday 2 March 1814 [92
in the front room. It is snowing. W e had some snow*
storms yesterday, and a smart frost at night, which
gave us a hard road from Cobham to Kingston ; but
as it was then getting dirty and heavy, Henry had
a pair of leaders put on from the latter place to the
bottom of Sloane St. His own horses, therefore,
cannot have had hard work. I watched for veils as
we drove through the streets, and had the pleasure of
seeing several upon vulgar heads. And now, how do
you all do ? — you in particular, after the worry of
yesterday and the day before. I hope Martha had
a pleasant visit again, and that you and my mother
could eat your beef-pudding. Depend upon my think-
ing of the chimney-sweeper as soon as I wake to-
morrow. Places are secured at Drury Lane for
Saturday, but so great is the rage for seeing Kean
that only a third and fourth row could be got ; as it is
in a front box, however, I hope we shall do pretty
well — Shylock, a good play for Fanny — she cannot be
much affected, I think. Mrs. Perigord has just been
here & I have paid her a shilling for the willow. She
tells me that we owe her master for the silk-dyeing.
My poor old muslin has never been dyed yet. It has
been promised to be done several times. What wicked
people dyers are. They begin with dipping their own
souls in scarlet sin. Tell my mother that my £6. 15.
was duly received, but placed to my account instead
of hers, & I have just signed a something which
makes it over to her. It is evening ; we have drank
tea, and I have torn through the third vol. of the
‘ Heroine.’ I do not think it falls off. It is a delightful
burlesque, particularly on the Radcliffe style. Henry
is going on with ‘ Mansfield Park.’ He admires
(877)
92] From Henrietta St. to Chawton
H. Crawford : I mean properly, as a clever, pleasant
man. I tell you all the good I can, as I know how
much you will enjoy it. John Warren and his wife
are invited to dine here, and to name their own day in
the next fortnight. I do not expect them to come.
Wyndham Knatchbull is to be asked for Sunday and
if he is cruel enough to consent, somebody must be
contrived to meet him. We hear that Mr. Keen is
more admired than ever. The two vacant places of
our two rows are likely to be filled by Mr. Tilson and
his brother General Chownes. I shall be ready to
laugh at the sight of Frederick again. It seems settled
that I have the carriage on Friday to pay visits, I have
therefore little doubt of being able to get to Miss
Hares. I am to call upon Miss Spencer : Funny me !
There are no good places to be got in Drury Lane for
the next fortnight ; but Henry means to secure some
for Saturday fortnight when you are reckoned upon.
I wonder what worse thing than Sarah Mitchell you
are forced upon by this time ! Give my love to little
Cassandra ! I hope she found my Bed comfortable
last night and has not filled it with fleas. I have seen
nobody in London yet with such a long chin as
Dr. Syntax, nor anybody quite so large as Gogma-
goglicus.
Yours affec tely
J. Austen
Thursday. My Trunk did not come last night
I suppose it will this morning— if not I must borrow
stockings & buy shoes & gloves for my visit. I was
foolish not to provide better against such a possibility.
I have great hope however that writing about it m
this way will bring the trunk presently.
( 378 )
Saturday 5 March 1814
[98
93. To Cassandra Austen. Saturday 5 March <1814)
Address : Miss Austen | Chawton | By favour of M r Gray
Postmark : none.
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°. A few words cut away.
Braboume ii. 222 ; Life 294 (extracts).
Henrietta S‘ Saturday March 5.
My dear Cassandra
Do not be angry with me for beginning another
Letter to you. I have read the Corsair, mended my
petticoat, & have nothing else to do.— Getting out is
impossible. It is a nasty day for everybody. Edward’s
spirits will be wanting Sunshine, & here is nothing but
Thickness & Sleet ; and tho’ these two rooms are
delightfully warm I fancy it is very cold abroad.—
Young Wyndham accepts the Invitation. He is such
a nice, gentlemanlike, unaffected sort of young Man,
that I think he may do for Fanny ; — has a sensible,
quiet look which one likes.— Our fate with Mrs. L. and
Miss E. is fixed for this day senight. — A civil note is
come from Miss H. Moore, to apologise for not return-
ing my visit today & ask us to join a small party this
Even*.— Thank ye, but we shall be better engaged.—
I was speaking to M de B. this morn* about a boil’d
Loaf, when it appeared that her Master has no rasp-
berry Jam ; She has some, which of course she is
determined he shall have ; but cannot you bring him
' a pot when you come ? —
Sunday. I find a little time before breakfast for
writing. — It was considerably past 4 when they arrived
yesterday ; the roads were so very bad ! — as it was,
they had 4 Horses from Cranford Bridge. Fanny was
miserably cold at first, but they both seem well. — No
( 879 )
93 ]
From Henrietta St. to Chawton
possibility of Edwd.’s writing. His opinion however
inclines against a second prosecution ; he thinks it
would be & vindictive measure. He might think
differently perhaps on the spot. — But things must
take their chance. —
We were quite satisfied with Kean. I cannot
imagine better acting ; but the part was too short,
& excepting him and Miss Smith, & she did not quite
answer my expectation, the parts were ill filled & the
Play heavy. We were too much tired to stay for the
whole of Illusion (Nour-jahad) which has 3 acts
there is a great deal of finery & dancing in it, but I
think little merit. Elliston was Nour-jahad, but it is
a solemn sort of part, not at all calculated for his
powers. There was nothing of the best Elliston about
him. I might not have known him, but for his voice —
A grand thought has struck me as to our Gowns. This
6 weeks mourning makes so great a difference that
I shallnot go to Miss Hare, till you can come & help
chuse yourself; unless you particularly wish the
contrary.— It may be hardly worth while perhaps to
have the Gowns so expensively made up ; we may
buv a cap or a veil instead but we can talk more ot
this together. — Henry is just come down, he seems
well, his cold does not increase. I expected to have
found Edward seated at a table writing to Louisa, but
I was first.— Fanny I left fast asleep.-She was doing
about last night, when I went to sleep, a little afte
one. — I am most happy to find there were but five
shirts —She thanks you for your note, & reproaches
herself for not having written to you, but I assure her
there was no occasion.-The accounts are not eapiml
of Lady B— Upon the whole I beleive Fanny lit
(380 )
Saturday 5 March 1814 [98
Bath very well. They were only out three Even 8 *, to
one Play & each of the Rooms ; — Walked about a good
deal, & saw a good deal of the Harrisons & Wildmans.
—All the Bridgeses are likely to come away together,
& Louisa will probably turn off at Dartford to go to
Harriot. — Edward is quite {about five words cut out }. —
Now we are come from Church, & all going to write. —
Almost everybody was in mourning last night, but my
brown gown did very well. Gen 1 : Chowne was intro-
duced to me ; he has not much remains of Frederick.—
This young Wyndham does not come after all ; a very
long & very civil note of excuse is arrived. It makes
one moralize upon the ups & downs of this Life.
I have determined to trim my lilac sarsenet with
black sattin ribbon just as my China Crape is, 6 d width
at the bottom, 3 d or 4 d at top. — Ribbon trimmings are
all the fashion at Bath, & I dare say the fashions of
the two places are alike enough in that point, to
content me. — With this addition it will be a very
useful gown, happy to go anywhere. — Henry has this
moment said that he likes my M. P. better & better ;
he is in the 3 d volume. I beleive now he has changed
his mind as to foreseeing the end ; he said yesterday
at least, that he defied anybody to say whether H. C.
would be reformed, or would forget Fanny in a fort-
night. — I shall like to see Kean again excessively, & to
see him with you too ; — it appeared to me as if there
were no fault in him anywhere ; & in his scene with
Tubal there was exquisite acting. Edward has had a
correspondence with Mr. Wickham on the Baigent
business, & has been shewing me some Letters enclosed
by Mr. W. from a friend of his, a Lawyer, whom he had
consulted about it, & whose opinion is for the prosecu-
(381)
98] From Henrietta St. to Chawtm
tion for assault, supposing the Boy is acquitted on the
first, which he rather expects. — Excellent Letters ;
& I am sure he must be an excellent Man. They are
such thinking, clear, considerate Letters as Frank
might have written. I long to know who he is, but
the name is always torn off. He was consulted only
as a friend. When Edw* gave me his opinion against
the 2 d prosecution, he had not read this Letter, which
was waiting for him here. — Mr. W. is to be on the
Grand Jury. This business must hasten an Intimacy
between his family & my Brother’s— Fanny cannot
answer your question about button holes till she gets
home. — I have never told you, but soon after Henry
& I began our Journey, he said, talking of Yours, that
he sh d desire you to come post at his expence, & added
something of the Carriage meeting you at Kingston.
He has said nothing about it since. — Now I have just
read Mr. Wickham’s Letter, by which it appears that
the Letters of his friend were sent to my Brother quite
confidentially — therefore do’nt tell. By his expres-
sion, this friend must be one of the Judges.
A cold day, but bright and clean.— I am afraid your
planting can hardly have begun. — I am sorry to hear
that there has been a rise in tea. I do not mean to pay
Twining till later in the day, when we may order
a fresh supply— I long to know something of the
Mead — & how you are off for a Cook. Monday .
Here’s a day !— The Ground covered with snow!
What is to become of us ?— We were to have walked
out early to near shops, & had the Carriage for the
more distant. — Mr. Richard Snow is dreadfully fond
of us. I dare say he has stretched himself out at
Chawton too.— Fanny & I went into the Park yester-
( 882 )
Saturday 5 March 1814 [98
day & drove about & were very much entertained ; —
and our Dinner & Even® went off very well. Messrs.
J. Plumptre and J. Wildman called while we were
out ; & we had a glimpse of them both & of G. Hatton
too in the Park. I could not produce a single acquain-
tance. — By a little convenient Listening, I now know
that Henry wishes to go to G m for a few days before
Easter, & has indeed promised to do it. — This being
the case, there can be no time for your remaining in
London after your return from Adlestrop. — You must
not put off your coming therefore ; — and it occurs to
me that instead of my coming here again from
Streatham, it will be better for you to join me there. —
It is a great comfort to have got at the truth. Henry
finds he cannot set off for Oxfordshire before the
Wednes y which will be ye 23 d ; but we shall not have
too many days together here previously. — I shall
write to Catherine very soon. Well, we have been
out, as far as Coventry S‘ — ; Edw* escorted us there
& back to Newtons, where he left us, & I brought
Fanny safe home. It was snowing the whole time.
We have given up all idea of the Carriage. Edward
& Fanny stay another day ; & both seem very well
pleased to do so. Our visit to the Spencers is of course
put off. — Edw 4 heard from Louisa this morn®. Her
Mother does not get better, & Dr. Parry talks of her
beginning the Waters again ; this will be keeping
them longer in Bath, and of course is not palateable.
You cannot think how much my Ermine Tippet is
admired both by Father & Daughter. It was a noble
Gift. — Perhaps you have not heard that Edward has
a good chance of escaping his Lawsuit. His opponent
knocks under. The terms of agreement are not quite
( 383 )
93] From Henrietta St. to Chawton
settled. — We are to see ‘ the Devil to pay * to night.
I expect to be very much amused. — Excepting Miss
Stephens, I daresay Artaxerxes will be very tiresome. —
A great many pretty Caps in the Windows of Cran-
bourn Alley I I hope when you come, we shall both
be tempted. — I have been ruining myself in black
sattin ribbon with a proper perl edge ; & now I am
trying to draw it up into kind of roses, instead of
putting it in plain double plaits. — Tuesday. My
dearest Cassandra in ever so many hurries I acknow-
ledge the receipt of your Letter last night, just before
we set off for Covent Garden. — I have no Mourning
come, but it does not signify. This very moment has
Rich* put it on the Table. — I have torn it open & read
your note. Thank you, thank you, thank you. —
Edw* is amazed at the 64 Trees. He desires his Love
& gives you notice of the arrival of a Study Table for
himself. It ought to be at Chawton this week. He
begs you to be so good as to have it enquired for, &
fetched by the Cart ; but wishes it not to be unpacked
till he is on the spot himself. It may be put in the
Hall. — Well, Mr. Hampson dined here & all that. I
was very tired of Artaxerxes, highly amused with the
Farce, & in an inferior way with the Pantomime that
followed. Mr. J. Plumptre j oined in the latter part of
the Even 8 — walked home with us, ate some soup, & is
very earnest for our going to Cov: Gar: again to night
to see Miss Stephens in the Farmers Wife. He is to
try for a Box. I do not particularly wish him to
succeed. I have had enough for the present.— Henry
dines to day with Mr. Spencer. —
Yours very affec ly J. Austen
( 384 )
Wednesday 9 March 1814 [94
94. To Cassandra Austen. Wednesday 9 March <1814)
Address : Miss Austen | Chawton | By favour of M r Gray
Postmark : none.
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabourne ii. 231 ; Life 295 (extracts). One sentence unpublished,
Henrietta S t Wednesday March 9.
Well, we went to the Play again last night, & as we
were out great part of the morning too, shopping &
seeing the Indian Jugglers, I am very glad to be quiet
now till dressing time. We are to dine at the Tilsons
& tomorrow at Mr. Spencers. — We had not done
breakfast yesterday when Mr. J. Plumptre appeared
to say that he had secured a Box. Henry asked him
to dine here, which I fancy he was very happy to do ;
& so, at 5 o’clock we four sat down to table together,
while the Master of the House was preparing for going
out himself. — The Farmer’s Wife is a Musical thing in
3 Acts, & as Edward was steady in not staying for
anything more, we were at home before 10 — Fanny
and Mr. J. P. are delighted with Miss S, & her merit
in singing is I dare say very great ; that she gave me
no pleasure is no reflection upon her, nor I hope upon
myself, being what Nature made me on that article.
All that I am sensible of in Miss S. is, a pleasing per-
son & no skill in acting. We had Mathews, Liston
& Emery ; of course some amusement. — Our friends
were off before | past 8 this morn 8 , & had the prospect
of a heavy cold Journey before them. I think they
both liked their visit very much, I am sure Fanny did.
— Henry sees decided attachment between her & his
new acquaintance. — I have a cold too as well as my
Mother & Martha. Let it be a generous emulation
( 385 ) cc
From Henrietta St. to Chawton
94 ]
between us which can get rid of it first. — I wear my
gauze gown today, long sleeves & all ; I shall see how
they succeed, but as yet I have no reason to suppose
long sleeves are allowable. I have lowered the bosom
especially at the corners, & plaited black sattin ribbon
round the top. Such will be my Costume of Vine
leaves & paste. Prepare for a Play the very first
evening, I rather think Covent Garden, to see Young
in Richard. — I have answered for your little com-
panion’s being conveyed to Keppel S‘ immediately. —
I have never yet been able to get there myself, but
hope I shall soon. What cruel weather this is ! and
here is Lord Portsmouth married too to Miss Hanson.
—Henry has finished Mansfield Park, & his approba-
tion has not lessened. He found the last half of the
last volume extremely interesting. I suppose my
Mother recollects that she gave me no Money for
paying Brecknell & Twining ; and my funds will not
supply enough. —
We are home in such good time that I can finish my
Letter tonight, which will be better than getting up
to do it tomorrow, especially as on account of my
Cold, which has been very heavy in my head this
Even® — I rather think of lying in bed later than usual.
I would not but be well enough to go to Hertford S‘
on any account.— We met only Gen 1 Chowne today,
who has not much to say for himself.— I was ready to
laugh at the remembrance of Frederick, & such a
different Frederick as we chose to fancy him to the
real Christopher ! — Mrs. Tilson had long sleeves too,
& she assured me that they are worn in the evemng
by many. I was glad to hear this— She dines here
I beleive next Tuesday.
( 386 )
Wednesday 9 March 1814 [94
On friday we are to be snug, with only Mr. Barlowe
& an evening of Business. — I am so pleased that the
Mead is brewed. — Love to all. If Cassandra has filled
my Bed with fleas, I am sure they must bite herself. —
I have mitten to Mrs. Hill & care for nobody.
Yours affec ly J. Austen
95. To Anna Austen. < May or June 1814)
Address : Miss Austen | Steventon
Postmark : none.
Miss Isabel Lefroy. One leaf 4°, the first leaf lost. The recto (i. e.
page 3) contains the conclusion of a letter signed ‘ Yr. affect G: M: |
C: Austen J. A.’s letter is on p. 4. Lord Brabourne writes that
the date of this letter is determined by the context. He is referring
to Mrs. Austen’s letter, in which mention is made of a fine crop of
gooseberries, not yet ripe.
Brabourne ii. 304 ; Life 354.
My dear Anna — I am very much obliged to you for
sending your MS. It has entertained me extremely,
all of us indeed ; I read it aloud to your G. M . — &
A 1 C. — and we were all very much pleased. — The
Spirit does not droop at all. Sir Tho: — Lady Helena,
& St. Julian are very well done — & Cecilia continues
to be interesting in spite of her being so amiable. — It
was very fit that you should advance her age. I like
the beginning of D. Forester very much — a great deal
better than if he had been very Good or very Bad. —
A few verbal corrections were all that I felt tempted
to make — the principal of them is a speech of St.
Julians to Lady Helena — which you see I have pre-
sumed to alter. — As Lady H. is Cecilia’s superior, it
w* 1 not be correct to talk of her being introduced ;
Cecilia must be the person introduced — and I do not
like a Lover’s speaking in the 3 d person ; — it is too
( 387 )
95] From Chawton to Anna Austen
much like the formal part of Lord Orville, & I think is
not natural. If you think differently however, you
need not mind me. — I am impatient for more — & only
wait for a safe conveyance to return this Book. —
Yours affec ly J. A,
■r
96. To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday 14 (misdated 13)
June <1814>
Address : Miss Austen, | Henrietta St. | By favour of Mr. Gray
Mrs. Henry Burke.
Braboume ii. 234 ; Life 303 (extracts).
Chawton : Tuesday J une 13
My dearest Cassandra
Fanny takes my mother to Alton this morning,
which gives me an opportunity of sending you a few
lines without any other trouble than that of writing
them.
This is a delightful day in the country, and I hope
not much too hot for town. Well, you had a good
journey, I trust, and all that, and not rain enough to
spoil your bonnet. It appeared so likely to be a wet
evening that I went up to the Gt. House between
three and four, and dawdled away an hour very com-
fortably, though Edwd. was not very brisk. The air
was clearer in the evening and he was better. We all
five walked together into the kitchen garden and
along the Gosport road, and they drank tea with us.
You will be glad to hear that G. Turner has another
situation, something in the cow line, near Rumsey, and
he wishes to move immediately, which is not likely to
be inconvenient to anybody.
( 388 )
Tuesday 14 June 1814 [96
The new nurseryman at Alton comes this morning
to value the crops in the garden.
The only letter to-day *is from Mrs. Cooke to me.
They do not leave home till July, and want me to
come to them, according to my promise. And, after
considering everything, I have resolved on going. My
companions promote it. I will not go, however, till
after Edward is gone, that he may feel he has a some-
body to give memorandums to, to the last. I must
give up all help from his carriage, of course. And, at any
rate, it must be such an excess of expense that I have
quite made up my mind to it and do not mean to care.
I have been thinking of Triggs and the chair, you
may be sure, but I know it will end in posting. They
will meet me at Guildford.
In addition to their standing claims on me they
admire ‘ Mansfield Park ’ exceedingly. Mr. Cooke
says ‘ it is the most sensible novel he ever read,’ and
the manner in which I treat the clergy delights them
very much. Altogether, I must go, and I want you
to join me there when your visit in Henrietta St. is
over. Put this into your capacious head.
Take care of yourself, and do not be trampled to
death in running after the Emperor. The report in
Alton yesterday was that they would certainly travel
this road either to or from Portsmouth. I long to
know what this bow of the Prince’s will produce.
I saw Mrs. Andrews yesterday. Mrs. Browning had
seen her before. She is very glad to send an Elizabeth.
Miss Benn continues the same. Mr. Curtis, however,
saw her yesterday and said her hand was going on as
well as possible. Accept our best love.
Yours very affectionately, J. Austen
( 389 )
97]
From Chawton to Henrietta St.
97. To Cassandra Austen . Thursday 23 June (1814)
Address : Miss Austen | Henrietta St. | By favour of Mr. Gray
Mrs. Henry Burke.
Brabourne ii. 236 ; Life 304 (extracts)*
Thursday June 23
Dearest Cassandra
I received your pretty letter while the children were
drinking tea with us, as Mr. Louch was so obliging as
to walk over with it. Y our good account of everybody
made us very happy.
I heard yesterday from Frank. When he began his
letter he hoped to be here on Monday, but before it
was ended he had been told that the naval review
would not take place till Friday, which would probably
occasion him some delay, as he cannot get some neces-
sary business of his own attended to while Portsmouth
is in such a bustle. I hope Fanny has seen the
Emperor, and then I may fairly wish them all away.
I go to-morrow, and hope for some delays and ad-
ventures.
My mother’s wood is brought in, but, by some mis-
take, no bavins. She must therefore buy some.
Henry at White’s ! Oh, what a Henry ! I do not
know what to wish as to Miss B., so I will hold my
tongue and my wishes.
Sackree and the children set off yesterday, and
have not been returned back upon us. They were all
very well the evening before. We had handsome
presents from the Gt. House yesterday — a ham and
the four leeches. Sackree has left some shirts of her
master’s at the school, which, finished or unfinished,
( 390 )
Thursday 23 June 1814 [97
she begs to have sent by Henry and Wm. Mr. Hinton is
expected home soon, which is a good thing for the shirts.
We have called upon Miss Dusautoy and Miss
Papillon, and been very pretty. Miss D. has a great
idea of being Fanny Price— she and her youngest
sister together, who is named Fanny.
Miss Benn has drunk tea with the Prowtings, and,
I believe, comes to us this evening. She has still
a swelling about the fore-finger and a little discharge,
and does not seem to be on the point of a perfect cure,
but her spirits are good, and she will be most happy,
I believe, to accept any invitation. The Clements are
gone to Petersfield to look.
Only think of the Marquis of Granby being dead.
I hope, if it please Heaven there should be another son,
they will have better sponsors and less parade.
I certainly do not wish that Henry should think
again of getting me to town. I would rather return
straight from Bookham ; but, if he really does propose
it, I cannot say No to what will be so kindly intended.
It could be but for a few days, however, as my mother
would be quite disappointed by my exceeding the
fortnight which I now talk of as the outside — at least,
we could not both remain longer away comfortably.
The middle of July is Martha’s time, as far as she
has any time. She has left it to Mrs. Craven to fix the
day. I wish she could get her money paid, for I fear
her going at all depends upon that.
Instead of Bath the Deans Dundases have taken
a house at Clifton— Richmond Terrace — and she is as
glad of the change as even you and I should be, or
almost. She will now be able to go on from Berks and
visit them without any fears from heat.
(391)
97] From Chawton to Henrietta St.
This post has brought me a letter from Miss Sharpe.
Poor thing 1 she has been suffering indeed, but is now
in a comparative state of comfort. She is at Sir W. P.’s,
in Yorkshire, with the children, and there is no
appearance of her quitting them. Of course we lose
the pleasure of seeing her here. She writes highly of
Sir Wm. I do so want him to marry her. There is
a Dow. Lady P. presiding there to make it all right.
The Man is the same ; but she does not mention what
he is by profession or trade. She does not think
Lady P. was privy to his scheme on her, but, on being
in his power, yielded. Oh, Sir Wm. ! Sir Wm. ! how
I will love you if you will love Miss Sharp !
Mrs. Driver, &c., are off by Collier, but so near being
too late that she had not time to call and leave the
keys herself. I have them, however. I suppose one
is the key of the linen-press, but I do not (know) what
to guess the other.
The coach was stopped at the blacksmith’s, and
they came running down with Triggs and Browning,
and trunks, and birdcages. Quite amusing.
My mother desires her love, and hopes to hear
from you.
Yours very affectionately, J. Austen
Frank and Mary are to have Mary Goodchild to
help as Under till they can get a cook. She is delighted
to go.
Best love at Streatham.
( 892 )
Wednesday 10 August 1814 [98
98. To Anna Austen. Wednesday 10 Aug. <1814)
Address : Miss Austen
Postmark : none.
Miss Isabel Lefroy. 2 leaves 4°.
Memoir 1 119, Memoir 2 91 ; Braboume ii. 805 ; Life 854. A few
lines unpublished.
Chawton Wednesday Aug: 10
My dear Anna
I am quite ashamed to find that I have never
answered some questions of yours in a former note. —
I kept the note on purpose to refer to it at a proper
time, & then forgot it. — I like the name ‘ Which is the
Heroine? ’ very well, & I dare say shall grow to like it
very much in time— but ‘ Enthusiasm ’ was something
so very superior that every common Title must appear
to disadvantage. — I am not sensible of any Blunders
about Dawlish. The Library was particularly pitiful
& wretched 12 years ago, & not likely to have any-
body’s publication.— There is no such Title as Des-
b or ough— either among the Dukes, Marquisses, Earls,
Viscounts or Barons. — These were your enquiries.—
I will now thank you for your Envelope, received this
morning— I hope M r W. D. will come.— I can readily
imagine M rB H. D. may be very like a profligate young
Lord — I dare say the likeness will be ‘ beyond every
thing.’ — Your Aunt Cass:— is as well pleased with St.
Julian as ever. I am delighted with the idea of seeing
Progillian again.
Wednesday 17.— We have just finished the 1 st of
the 3 Books I had the pleasure of receiving yesterday ;
I read it aloud — & we are all very much amused,
& like the work quite as well as ever. — I depend
upon getting through another book before dinner, but
( 393 )
From Chawton to Anna Austen
there is really a great deal of respectable reading in
your 48 Pages. I was an hour about it. — I have no
doubt that 6 will make a very good sized volume.—
You must be quite pleased to have accomplished so
much— I like Lord P. & his Brother very much ;—
I am only afraid that Lord P.— ’s good nature will
make most people like him better than he deserves. —
The whole Portman Family are very good— & Lady
Anne, who was your great dread, you have succeeded
particularly well with.— Bell Griffin is just what she
should be. — My Corrections have not been more im-
portant than before here & there, we have thought
the sense might be expressed in fewer words— and I
have scratched out Sir Tho: from walking with the other
Men to the Stables &c the very day after his break-
ing his arm— for though I find your Papa did walk out
immediately after his arm was set, I think it can be
so little usual as to appear unnatural in a book— & it
does not seem to be material that Sir Tho: should go
with them. — Lyme will not do. Lyme is towards
40 miles distance from Dawlish & would not be talked
of there.— I have put Starcross indeed. If you prefer
Exeter, that must be always safe. — I have also scratched
out the Introduction between Lord P. & his Brother,
& Mr. Griffin. A Country Surgeon (dont tell Mr. C.
Lyford) would not be introduced to Men of their
rank. — And when Mr. Portman is first brought in, he
w d not be introduced as the Hon ble . That distinction
is never mentioned at such times ; — at least I beleive
no t. Now, we have finished the 2 d book— or rather
the 5 th J do think you had better omit Lady Helena s
postscript ; — to Jse who are acquainted with P & P.
it will seem an Imitation. — And your Aunt C. & I bo
(894)
Wednesday 10 August 1814 [98
recommend your making a little alteration in the last
scene between Devereux F. and Lady Clanmurray &
her Daughter. We think they press him too much —
more than sensible Women or well-bred Women would
do. Lady C. at least, should have discretion enough
to be sooner satisfied with his determination of not
going with them. — I am very much pleased with
Egerton as yet.— I did not expect to like him, but I
do ; & Susan is a very nice little animated Creature —
but St. Julian is the delight of one’s Life. He is quite
interesting. — The whole of his Break-off with Lady H.
is very well done. —
Yes — Russel Square is a very proper distance from
Berkeley S*. — We are reading the last book. — They
must be two days going from Dawlish to Bath ; They
are nearly 100 miles apart.
Thursday. We finished it last night, after our
return from drinking tea at the G‘ House. — The last
chapter does not please us quite so well, we do not
thoroughly like the Play ; perhaps from having had
too much of Plays in that way lately. And we think
you had better not leave England. Let the Portmans
go to Ireland, but as you know nothing of the Manners
there, you had better not go with them. You will be
in danger of giving false representations. Stick to
Bath & the Foresters. There you will be quite at
home. — Your Aunt C. does not like desultory novels,
& is rather fearful yours will be too much so, that
there will be too frequent a change from one set of
people to another, & that circumstances will be some-
times introduced of apparent consequence, which will
lead to nothing. — It will not be so great an objection
to me, if it does. I allow much more Latitude than
(395)
98 ] From Chawton to Anna Austen
she does — & think Nature and Spirit cover many sins
of a wandering story — and People in general do not
care so much about it — for your comfort.
I should like to have had more of Devereux. I do
not feel enough acquainted with him. — You were
afraid of meddling with him I dare say. — I like your
sketch of Lord Clanmurray, and your picture of the
two poor young girls enjoyments is very good. —
I have not yet noticed St. Julian’s serious conversation
with Cecilia, but I liked it exceedingly what he says
about the madness of otherwise sensible Women, on
the subject of their Daughters coming out, is worth
it ’s weight in gold. — I do not see that the language
sinks. Pray go on.
Yours very affec: ly J. Austen
Twice you have put Dorsetshire for Devonshire.
I have altered it. — M 1 Griffin must have lived in
Devonshire ; Dawlish is half way down the County.—
99. To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday — Aug. 1814
Address : Miss Austen | Chawton
Postmark : none.
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabourne ii. 240 ; Life 305 (extracts).
28 Hans Place, Tuesday Morn*.
My dear Cassandra
I had a very good Journey, not crouded, two of the
three taken up at B entley being Children, the others
of a reasonable size ; & they were all very quiet &
civil. We were late in London, from being a great
Load & from changing Coaches at Farnham, it was
nearly 4 I beleive when we reached Sloane S* ; Henry
(896)
Tuesday — August 1814 [99
himself met me, & as soon as my Trunk & Basket
could be routed out from all the other Trunks &
Baskets in the World, we were on our way to Hans
Place in the Luxury of a nice large cool dirty Hackney
Coach. There were 4 in the Kitchen part of Yalden —
& I was told 15 at top, among them Percy Benn ; we
met in the same room at Egham, but poor Percy was
not in his usual Spirits. He would be more chatty
I dare say in his way from Woolwich. We took up
a young Gibson at Holybourn ; & in short everybody
either did come up by Yalden yesterday, or wanted to
come up. It put me in mind of my own Coach between
Edinburgh & Sterling. — Henry is very well, & has
given me an account of the Canterbury Races, which
seem to have been as pleasant as one could wish.
Everything went well. Fanny had good Partners,
Mr. J. P. was her 2 d on Thursday, but he did not dance
with her any more. — This will content you for the
present. I must just add however that there were no
Lady Charlottes, they were gone off to Kirby — & that
Mary Oxenden, instead of dieing, is going to marry
W m Hammond. —
No James & Edward yet. — Our evening yesterday
was perfectly quiet ; we only talked a little to Mr.
Tilson across the intermediate Gardens ; she was gone
out airing with Miss Burdett. — It is a delightful Place
— more than answers my expectation. Having got rid
of my unreasonable ideas, I find more space & comfort
in the rooms than I had supposed, & the Garden is
quite a Love. I am in the front Attic, which is the
Bedchamber to be preferred. Henry wants you to
see it all, & asked whether you w d return with him
from Hampshire ; I encouraged him to think you
(397 )
99] From Hans Place to Chawton
would. He breakfasts here, early, & then rides to
Henrietta S‘. — If it continues fine, John is to drive me
there by & bye, & we shall take an airing together ;
& I do not mean to take any other exercise, for I feel
a little tired after my long Jumble. — I live in his room
downstairs, it is particularly pleasant from opening
upon the garden. I go & refresh myself every now
& then, and then come back to Solitary Coolness.—
There is one maidservant only, a very creditable,
cleanlooking young Woman, Richard remains for the
present. —
Wednesday Morn*. — My Brother and Edw d arrived
last night.— They c d not get Places the day before.
Their business is about Teeth & Wigs, & they are going
after breakfast to Scarman’s & Tavistock S‘— and
they are to return to go with me afterwards in the
Barouche. I hope to do some of my errands today.
I got the Willow yesterday, as Henry was not quite
ready when I reached Hen a S*. — I saw Mr. Hampson
there for a moment. He dines here tomorrow & pro-
posed bringing his son ; — so I must submit to seeing
George Hampson, though I had hoped to go through
Life without it. — It was one of my vanities, like your
not reading Patronage. — After leaving H. S l we drove
to Mrs. Latouches, they are always at home— & they
are to dine here on friday. — We could do no more,
as it began to rain— We dine at \ past 4 today, that
our Visitors may go to the Play, and Henry & I are to
spend the even* with the Tilsons, to meet Miss Burdett,
who leaves Town tomorrow. — Mrs. T. called on me
yesterday. — Is not this all that can have happened,
or been arranged ?— Not quite —Henry wants me to
see more of his Hanwell favourite, & has written to
( 398 )
Tuesday — August 1814 [99
invite her to spend a day or two here with me. His
scheme is to fetch her on Saturday. I am more &
more convinced that he will marry again soon, & like
the idea of her better than of anybody else at hand.
Now, I have breakfasted & have the room to myself
again. — It is likely to be a fine day. — How do you all
do ? — Henry talks of being at Chawton about the 1 st of
Sept r . — He has once mentioned a scheme, which I
should rather like — calling on the Birches & the
Crutchleys in our way. It may never come to any-
thing, but I must provide for the possibility, by
troubling you to send up my Silk Pelisse by Collier on
Saturday. I feel it would be necessary on such an
occasion; — and be so good as to put up a clean
Dressing gown which will come from the Wash on
friday. You need not direct it to be left anywhere.
It may take it’s chance. — We are to call for Henry
between 8 & 4 — & I must finish this & carry it with me,
as he is not always there in the morn 8 before the
Parcel is made up. — And before I set off, I must return
Mrs. Tilson’s visit. — I hear nothing of the Hoblyns &
abstain from all enquiry. — ■
I hope Mary Jane & Frank’s Gardens go on well. —
Give my love to them all — Nunna Hat’s Love to
George. — A great many People wanted to mo up in
the Poach as well as me. — The wheat looked very well
all the way, & James says the same of his road. — The
same good account of Mrs. C.’s health continues, & her
circumstances mend. She gets farther & farther from
Poverty. What a comfort ! Good bye to You. —
Yours very truly & affec ly Jane
All well at Steventon. I hear nothing particular
of Ben, except that Edward is to get him some pencils.
(399 )
100] From Chawton to Anna Austen
100. To Anna Austen . < Friday > 9 Sept. <1814)
Address : Miss Austen
Postmark : none.
Miss Isabel Lefroy. 2 leaves 4°.
Memoir 1 120, Memoir 3 91 (extract) ; Braboume ii, 810 ; Life 857
(extracts),
Chawton Sept: 9.
My dear Anna
We have been very much amused by your 3 books,
but I have a good many criticisms to make — more
than you will like. — We are not satisfied with Mrs. F.’s
settling herself as Tenant & near Neighbour to such
a Man as Sir T. H. without having some other induce-
ment to go there ; she ought to have some friend
living thereabouts to tempt her. A woman, going with
two girls just growing up, into a Neighbourhood where
she knows nobody but one Man, of not very good
character, is an awkwardness which so prudent a
woman as Mrs. F. would not be likely to fall into.
Remember, she is very prudent ; — you must not let
her act inconsistently. — Give her a friend, & let that
friend be invited to meet her at the Priory, & we shall
have no objection to her dining there as she does ; but
otherwise, a woman in her situation would hardly go
there, before she had been visited by other Families.—
I like the scene itself, the Miss Lesleys, Lady Anne, &
the Music, very much. — Lesley is a noble name.
Sir T. H. you always do very well ; I have only taken
the liberty of expunging one phrase of his, which
would not be allowable. ‘ Bless my Heart ’ — It is too
familiar & inelegant. Your G. M. is more disturbed
at Mrs. F.’s not returning the Egertons visit sooner,
than anything else. They ought to have called at the
( 400 )
Friday 9 September 1814 [100
Parsonage before Sunday. — You describe a sweet place,
but your descriptions are often more minute than will
be liked. You give too many particulars of right hand
& left. — Mrs. F. is not careful enough of Susan’s
health ; — Susan ought not to be walking out so soon
after Heavy rains, taking long walks in the dirt. An
anxious Mother would not suffer it. — I like your Susan
very much indeed, she is a sweet creature, her playful-
ness of fancy is very delightful. I like her as she is now
exceedingly, but I am not so well satisfied with her
behaviour to George R. At first she seemed all over
attachment & feeling, & afterwards to have none at
all ; she is so extremely composed at the Ball, & so
well-satisfied apparently with Mr. Morgan. She seems
to have changed her Character. — You are now collect-
ing your People delightfully, getting them exactly
into such a spot as is the delight of my life ; — 3 or
4 Families in a Country Village is the very thing to
work on — & I hope you will write a great deal more,
& make full use of them while they are so very
favourably arranged. You are but now coming to the
heart & beauty of your book ; till the heroine grows
up, the fun must be imperfect — but I expect a great
deal of entertainment from the next 3 or 4 books,
& I hope you will not resent these remarks by sending
me no more. — We like the Egertons very well, we see
no Blue Pantaloons, or Cocks & Hens; — there is
nothing to enchant one certainly in Mr. L. L — but we
make no objection to him, & his inclination to like
Susan is pleasing. — The Sister is a good contrast — but
the name of Rachael is as much as I can bear. — They
are not so much like the Papillons as I expected.
Your last chapter is very entertaining — the conversa-
nt)! ) D d
100] From Ckawton to Anna Austen
tion on Genius &c. Mr. St. J. — & Susan both talk in
character & very well. — In some former parts, Cecilia
is perhaps a little too solemn & good, but upon the
whole, her disposition is very well opposed to Susan’s
— her want of Imagination is very natural. — I wish you
could make Mrs. F. talk more, but she must be difficult
to manage & make entertaining, because there is so
much good common sence & propriety about her that
nothing can be very broad. Her Economy and her
Ambition must not be staring. — The Papers left by
Mrs. Fisher is very good. — Of course, one guesses
something. — I hope when you have written a great
deal more you will be equal to scratching out some
of the past. The scene with Mrs. Mellish, I should
condemn ; it is prosy & nothing to the purpose — &
indeed, the more you can find in your heart to curtail
between Dawlish & Newton Priors, the better I think
it will be. One does not care for girls till they are
grown up. — Your Aunt C. quite enters into the ex-
quisiteness of that name. Newton Priors is really
a Nonpareil. — Milton w d have given his eyes to have
thought of it. Is not the Cottage taken from Tollard
Royal ? —
Sunday 18 th — I am very glad dear Anna, that I
wrote as I did before this sad Event occurred. I have
now only to add that your G.Mama does not seem
the worse now for the shock. — I shall be very happy
to receive more of your work, if more is ready ; & you
write so fast, that I have great hopes Mr. D. will come
freighted back with such a Cargo as not all his Hops
or his Sheep could equal the value of.
Your Grandmama desires me to say that she will
have finished your Shoes tomorrow & thinks they will
{ 402 )
Friday 9 September 1814 [100
look very well; — and that she depends upon seeing you,
as you promise, before you quit the Country, & hopes you
will give her more than a day. — Yrs affec ly
J. Austen
101. To Anna Austen. Wednesday 28 Sept. (1814)
.4ef4rm : Miss Austen | Steventon
Postmark : none.
Miss Isabel Lefroy. 2 leaves 4°.
Memoir 1 111, 120, Memoir 2 85, 91 (extracts) ; Brabourne ii. 815 ;
Life 359.
Chawton Wednesday Sept: 28.
My dear Anna
I hope you do not depend on having your book back
again immediately. I keep it that your G:Mama may
hear it — for it has not been possible yet to have any
public reading. I have read it to your Aunt Cassandra
however — in our own room at night, while we un-
dressed — and with a great deal of pleasure. We like
the first chapter extremely — with only a little doubt
whether Ly Helena is not almost too foolish. The
matrimonial Dialogue is very good certainly.— I like
Susan as well as ever — & begin now not to care at all
about Cecilia — she may stay at Easton Court as long
as she likes. — Henry Mellish I am afraid will be too
much in the common Novel style — a handsome,
amiable, unexceptionable Young Man (such as do not
much abound in real Life) desperately in Love, & all in
vain. But I have no business to judge him so early. —
Jane Egerton is a very natural, comprehendable Girl —
& the whole of her acquaintance with Susan, & Susan’s
Letter to Cecilia, very pleasing & quite in character.—
But Miss Egerton does not entirely satisfy us. She
(408 )
101] From Chawton to Anna Austen
is too formal & solemn, we think, in her advice to her
Brother not to fall in love ; & it is hardly like a
sensible Woman ; it is putting it into his head.— We
should like a few hints from her better. — We feel
really obliged to you for introducing a Lady Kenrick,
it will remove the greatest fault in the work, & I give
you credit for considerable forbearance as an Author
in adopting so much of our opinion. — I expect high
fun about Mrs. Fisher and Sir Thomas— You have
been perfectly right in telling Ben of your work, &
I am very glad to hear how much he likes it. His
encouragement & approbation must be quite ‘ beyond
everything.' — I do not at all wonder at his not expect*
ing to like anybody so well as Cecilia at first, but shall
be surprised if he does not become a Susan-ite in time.
Devereux Forester's being ruined by his Vanity is
extremely good ; but I wish you would not let him
plunge into a 4 vortex of Dissipation. I do not object
to the Thing, but I cannot bear the expression it is
such thorough novel slang — and so old, that I dare say
Adam met with it in the first novel he opened.—
Indeed I did very much like to know Ben s opinion.
I hope he will continue to be pleased with it, I think
he must — but I cannot flatter him with their being
much Incident. We have no great right to wonder at
his not valueing the name of Progillian. That is a
source of delight which he hardly ever can be quite
competent to.— Walter Scott has no business to write
novels, especially good ones. — It is not fair. He has
Fame and Profit enough as a Poet, and should not be
taking the bread out of other people’s mouths.— I do
not like him, & do not mean to like Waverley if I can
help it — but fear I must.— I am quite determined
( 404 )
Wednesday 28 September 1814 [101
however not to be pleased with Mrs. West’s Alicia de
Lacy, should I ever meet with it, which I hope I may
not —I think I can be stout against any thing written
by Mrs. West.— I have made up my mind to like no
Novels really, but Miss Edgeworth’s, Yours & my
own. —
What can you do with Egerton to increase the
interest for him ? I wish you c d contrive something,
some family occurrence to draw out his good qualities
more — some distress among Brothers or Sisters to
releive by the sale of his Curacy — something to (tak)e
him mysteriously away, & then heard of at York or
Edinburgh — in an old great coat. — I would not seriously
recommend anything Improbable, but if you c d invent
something spirited for him, it w d have a good effect. —
He might lend all his Money to Capt“ Morris — but then
he w 4 be a great fool if he did. Cannot the Morrises
quarrel, & he reconcile them? — Excuse the liberty
I take in these suggestions. —
Your Aunt Frank’s Housemaid has just given her
warning, but whether she is worth your having, or w d
take your place I know not. — She was Mrs. Webb’s
maid before she went to the G‘ House. She leaves
your Aunt, because she cannot agree with her fellow
servants. She is in love with the Man and her head
seems rather turned ; he returns her affection, but she
fancies every body else is wanting to get him too, &
envying her. Her previous service must have fitted
her for such a place as yours, & she is very active and
cleanly. — She is own Sister to the favourite Beatrice. —
The Webbs are really gone. When I saw the Waggons
at the door, & thought of all the trouble they must
have in moving, I began to reproach myself for not
( 405 )
101] From Chawton to Anna Austen
having liked them better — but since the Waggons have
disappeared, my Conscience has been closed again—
& I am excessively glad they are gone. —
I am very fond of Sherlock’s Sermons, prefer them
to almost any.—
Your affec te Aunt
J. Austen
If you wish me to speak to the Maid, let me know. —
102. To Anna Austen
Address : Miss Austen | Steventon
R. A. Austen-Leigh. Copy by F. C. Lefroy, endorsed ‘Copy of
Note written by Jane Austen to her niece Anne Austen (M rs B,
Lefroy) and given by me (F. C. Lefroy) to Cholmeley Austen Leigh
for his collection of Autographs 1 .
Unpublished.
Miss Jane Austen begs her best Thanks may be
conveyed to M rs Hunter of Norwich for the thread
paper which she has been so kind as to send her by
M r Austen, and which will always be very valuable on
account of the spirited sketches (made it is supposed
by Nicholson or Glover) of those most interesting spots
Tarefield Hall, the Mill & above all else Tomb of
Howards wife of the faithful representation of which
Miss Jane Austen is undoubtedly a good judge having
spent so many summers at Tarefield Abbey the de-
lighted guest of the worthy M r8 Wilson.— It is impos-
sible for any likeness to be more complete. Miss J. A.’s
tears have flowed over each sweet sketch in such a way
as would do Mrs Hs heart good to see, & if M r9 H.
could understand all Miss Austen’s interest in the
subject she would certainly have the kindness to
publish at least four volumes more about the Flint
( 400 )
To Anna Austen
[102
family, & especially would give many further particu-
lars on that part of it which M rs II has hitherto
handled too briefly viz the history of Mary Flints
marriage with Howard.
Miss J. A. cannot close this small Epitome of the
miniature of an abridgement of her Thanks & admira-
tion without expressing her sincere hopes that M“ H
is provided with a more safe conveyance to London
than Alton can now boast — as the Car of Falkenstein
which was the pride of that Town was overturned
within the last ten days.
103. To Fanny Knight. Friday 18 Nov. <1814)
Address : Miss Knight | Goodnestone Farm | Wingham | Kent
Postmarks : alton and 21 no (year illegible)
Lord Bra bourne. 2 leaves 4°. Endorsed ‘ No 6. Nov r 1814 \
Facsimile in Five Letters from Jane Austen to Fanny Knight ,
Oxford 1924.
Brabourne ii. 277 ; Life 808, 342 (extracts). The postscript is
unpublished, and some phrases and names were suppressed or
disguised by Lord Brabourne.
Chawton Nov : 18. — Friday
I feel quite as doubtful as you could be my dearest
Fanny as to when my Letter may be finished, for I can
command very little quiet time at present, but yet
I must begin, for I know you will be glad to hear as
soon as possible, & I really am impatient myself to be
writing something on so very interesting a subject,
though I have no hope of writing anything to the
purpose. I shall do very little more I dare say than
say over again, what you have said before. — I was
certainly a good deal surprised at first — as I had no
suspicion of any change in your feelings, and I have no
( 407 )
103] From Chawton to Fanny Knight
scruple in saying that you cannot be in Love. My
dear Fanny, I am ready to laugh at the idea — and yet
it is no laughing matter to have had you so mistaken
as to your own feelings — And with all my heart I wish
I had cautioned you on that point when first you
spoke to me ; — but tho’ I did not think you then so
much in love as you thought yourself, I did consider
you as being attached in a degree — quite sufficiently
for happiness, as I had no doubt it would increase with
opportunity. — And from the time of our being in
London together, I thought you really very much in
love — But you certainly are not at all — there is no
concealing it. — What strange creatures we are ! — It
seems as if your being secure of him (as you say your-
self) had made you Indifferent. — There was a little
disgust I suspect, at the Races— & I do not wonder at
it. His expressions there would not do for one who
had rather more Acuteness, Penetration & Taste, than
Love, which was your case. And yet, after all, I am
surprised that the change in your feelings should be
so great. — He is, just what he ever was, only more
evidently & uniformly devoted to you. This is all
the difference. — How shall we account for it ?— My
dearest Fanny, I am writing what will not be of
the smallest use to you. I am feeling differently
every moment, & shall not be able to suggest a
single thing that can assist your Mind. — I could
lament in one sentence & laugh in the next, but as to
Opinion or Counsel I am sure none will (be) extracted
worth having from this Letter. — I read yours through
the very even 8 1 received it — getting away by myself—
I could not bear to leave off, when I had once begun.
I was full of curiosity & concern. Luckily your Aunt C.
( 408 )
Friday 18 November 1814 [103
dined at the other house, therefore I had not to
manoeuvre away from her ; — & as to anybody else,
I do not care. — Poor dear Mr. J. P. 1 — Oh I dear
Fanny, your mistake has been one that thousands of
women fall into. He was the first young Man who
attached himself to you. That was the charm, & most
powerful it is. — Among the multitudes however that
make the same mistake with yourself, there can be
few indeed who have so little reason to regret it ; — his
Character and his attachment leave you nothing to be
ashamed of.— Upon the whole, what is to be done ?
You certainly have encouraged him to such a point as
to make him feel almost secure of you — you have no
inclination for any other person — Ilis situation in
life, family, friends, & above all his character — his
uncommonly amiable mind, strict principles, just
notions, good habits— all that you know so well how
to value, All that really is of the first importance —
everything of this nature pleads his cause most
strongly. — You have no doubt of his having superior
Abilities — he has proved it at the University — he is
I dare say such a scholar as your agreable, idle
Brothers would ill bear a comparison with. — Oh ! my
dear Fanny, the more I write about him, the warmer
my feelings become, the more strongly I feel the
sterling worth of such a young Man & the desirable-
ness of your growing in love with him again. I recom-
mend this most thoroughly. — There are such beings
in the World perhaps, one in a Thousand, as the
Creature You and I should think perfection, Where
Grace & Spirit are united to Worth, where the Manners
are equal to the Heart & Understanding, but such
a person may not come in your way, or if he does, he
( 409 )
103] From Chawton to Fanny Knight
may not be the eldest son of a Man of Fortune, the
Brother of your particular friend, & belonging to your
own County. — Think of all this Fanny. Mr. J. P. —
has advantages which do not often meet in one person.
His only fault indeed seems Modesty. If he were less
modest, he would be more agreahle, speak louder &
look Impudenter ; — and is not it a fine Character of
which Modesty is the only defect ?— I have no doubt
that he will get more lively & more like yourselves as
he is more with you ; — he will catch your ways if he
belongs to you. And as to there being any objection
from his Goodness, from the danger of his becoming
even Evangelical, I cannot admit that, I am by no
means convinced that we ought not all to be Evan-
gelicals, & am at least persuaded that they who are so
from Reason and Feeling, must be happiest & safest —
Do not be frightened from the connection by your
Brothers having most wit. Wisdom is better than
Wit, & in the long run will certainly have the laugh
on her side ; & don’t be frightened by the idea of his
acting more strictly up to the precepts of the New
Testament than others.— And now, my dear Fanny,
having written so much on one side of the question,
I shall turn round & entreat you not to commit your-
self farther, & not to think of accepting him unless you
really do like him. Anything is to be preferred or
endured rather than marrying without Affection ; and
if his deficiencies of Manner &c &c strike you more
than all his good qualities, if you continue to thin
strongly of them, give him up at once.-Things are
now in such a state, that you must resolve upon one
or the other, either to allow him to go on as he as
done, or whenever you are together behave wit a
( 410 )
Friday 18 November 1814 [103
coldness which may convince him that he has been
deceiving himself.— I have no doubt of his suffering
a good deal for a time, a great deal, when he feels that
he must give you up but it is no creed of mine, as
you must be well aware, that such sort of Disappoint-
ments kill anybody. — Your sending the Music was an
admirable Device, it made everything easy, & I do
not know how I could have accounted for the parcel
otherwise ; for tho’ your dear Papa most conscien-
tiously hunted about till he found me alone in the
Din 8 -parlour, your Aunt C. had seen that he had
a parcel to deliver.— As it was however, I do not think
anything was suspected.— We have heard nothing
fresh from Anna. I trust she is very comfortable in
her new home. Her Letters have been very sensible
& satisfactory, with no parade of happiness, which
I liked them the better for.— I have often known
young married Women write in a way I did not like,
in that respect.
You will be glad to hear that the first Edit: of M. P.
is all sold. — Your Uncle Henry is rather wanting me
to come to Town, to settle about a 2 d Edit:— but as
I could not very conveniently leave home now, I have
written him my Will and pleasure, & unless he still
urges it, shall not go. — I am very greedy & want to
make the most of it ; — but as you are much above
caring about money, I shall not plague you with any
particulars. — The pleasures of Vanity are more within
your comprehension, & you will enter into mine, at
receiving the praise which every now & then comes to
me, through some channel or other. —
Saturday. — Mr. Palmer spent yesterday with us, &
is gone off with Cassy this morn 8 . We have been
( 411 )
103] From Chawton to Fanny Knight
expecting Miss Lloyd the last two days, & feel sure of
her today. — Mr. Knight and Mr. Edw: Knight are
to dine with us. — And on Monday they are to dine
with us again, accompanied by their respectable Host
& Hostess. — Sunday. Your Papa had given me
messages to you, but they are unnecessary, as he
writes by this post to Aunt Louisa. We had a pleasant
party yesterday, at least we found it so. — It is delight-
ful to see him so chearful & confident. — Aunt Cass:
& I dine at the G l House today. We shall be a snug
half dozen. — Miss Lloyd came, as we expected, yester-
day, & desires her Love.-— She is very happy to hear
of your learning the Harp. — I do not mean to send
you what I owe Miss Hare, because I think you would
rather not be paid beforehand. — •
Yours very affec ly
J. Austen
Your trying to excite your own feelings by a visit
to his room amused me excessively. — The dirty Shav-
ing Rag was exquisite ! — Such a circumstance ought
to be in print. Much too good to be lost. — Remember
me particularly to Fanny C.— I thought you w 1 like to
hear from me, while you were with her.
104. To Anna Lefroy. Tuesday 22 Nov. 1814
Address : To | Mrs B. Lefroy | Hendon
Postmark : 24 no 1814 m 9 (i.e. 9 a.m.)
Miss Isabel Lefroy. One leaf 4°.
Braboume ii. 320. A few lines unpublished.
My dear Anna
I met Harriet Benn yesterday, she gave her con-
gratulations & desired they might be forwarded to you,
and there they are. — Your Father returned to dinner,
( 412 )
Tuesday 22 November 1814 [104
M r W m Digweed who had business with your Uncle,
rode with him. — The cheif news from their country is
the death of old Mrs. Dormer. — Your Cousin Edward
goes to Winchester today to see his Brother & Cousins,
& returns tomorrow. Mrs. Clement walks about in a
new Black velvet Pelisse lined with Yellow, & a white
Bobbin-net-veil, & looks remarkably well in them. —
I think I understand the Country about Hendon from
your description. It must be very pretty in Summer. —
Should you <? guess) that you were within a dozen miles
of the We<n from) the atmosphere ? — I shall break
my he<art> if yo<u do) not go to Hadley. —
Make everybody at Hendon admire Mansfield Park.
Your affec: Aunt
Tuesday Nov. 22 J. A.
105 . To Anna Lefroy. < Tuesday 29 Nov. 1814 )
Address : M rs B. Lefroy | Hendon
Postmark : illegible
This letter as printed by Lord Brabourne begins 1 assure you we all
came away very much pleased with our visit and ends and remain
Your affectionate Aunt , J. Austen . The original of this text con-
sists of three distinct fragments :
(1) R. A. Austen-Leigh. One leaf 8°, 7J X 4$ — pages 1-2 of a letter.
Endorsed in pencil 4 From Hans Place | Nov 29. 1814 \ Attached
is the record that this is part of a letter to Mrs. Lefroy, who in
1869 gave it to her niece Mary A. Austen-Leigh. Page 1 begins
1 am very much obliged to you , my dear Anna and ends but one
remove from B r d? S r . This was not printed by Lord Brabourne.
Page 2 begins We all came away very much pleased with our visit
I assure you and ends hugs M r Younge delightfully . A pencil mark
indicating a fresh paragraph at We were all at the Play suggests that
the original was sent to the printer ; it seems probable that the
printer omitted p. 1 by inadvertence. The transposition of I assure
you is in Lord Brabourne’s manner (and may have been done in
proof).
(2) Miss Isabel Lefroy. A scrap, 4£ inches wide, mutilated at the
( 413 )
105 ] From Hans Place to Anna Lefroy
top ; begins Gassy was excessively , ends Benjamin was bom in f
The appearance of the paper, and the place of the folds, suggest
that this is the upper third (about) of the second leaf, pages 3*4.
The piece removed from the top would in that case be just large
enough to contain the missing sentence 1 am going this morning
to see the little girls in Keppel Street . On the verso is written
Miss J. Austen three times, and Hans Place Sloane Street This
cannot be the direction of this letter ; J. A. may have used an old
4 envelope \
(3) Lady Charnwood. A scrap, 4£ inches wide, forming the central
part of the second leaf; begins If your Uncle , ends J. Austen,
The lower part of the j of Benjamin , missing in (2), is plain in (3).
The direction is on the verso. — The date (Tuesday, Nov: 29) has
been cut out (from the foot of p. 3, no doubt) and mounted with
the rest of the fragment.
A copy of the letter by Mrs. Bellas, Anna Lefroy’s daughter, is in
Miss Lefroy’s possession. This was made before the mutilation,
for it includes the sentence about the little girls (substituting,
however, 4 Street ’ for 4 Keppel Street ’).
Lord Brabourne dates the letter 28 Nov., but the performance of
Isabella at Co vent Garden, referred to as 4 last night was on
Monday 28 Nov. A former owner of fragment (1) and Mrs. Bellas
concur in the date 29 Nov.
Memoir 1 116, Memoir 2 88 (extract) ; Brabourne ii. 321 ; Life 361.
Part unpublished.
I am very much obliged to you, my dear Anna, &
should be very happy to come & see you again if I
could, but I have not a day disengaged. We are
expecting your Uncle Charles tomorrow j and I am
to go the next day to Hanwell to fetch some Miss
Moores who are to stay here till Saturday ; then comes
Sunday & Eliz th Gibson, and on Monday Your Uncle
Henry takes us both to Chawton. It is therefore
really impossible, but I am very much obliged to You
& to M r B. Lefroy for wishing it.
We should find plenty to say, no doubt, & I should
like to hear Charlotte Dewar’s Letter ; however,
though I do not hear it, I am glad she has written to
( 414 )
Tuesday 29 November 1814
you. I like first Cousins to be first Cousins, & inter-
ested about each other. They are but one remove
from B r & S r —
We all came away very much pleased with our visit
I assure You. We talked of you for about a mile &
a half with great satisfaction, & I have been just
sending a very good account of you to Miss Beckford,
with a description of your dress for Susan & Maria. —
Your Uncle & Edw d left us this morning. The hopes
of the Former in his Cause, do not lessen. — We were
all at the Play last night, to see Miss O’neal in Isabella.
I do not think she was quite equal to my expectation.
I fancy I want something more than can be. Acting
seldom satisfies me. I took two Pocket handkerchiefs,
but had very little occasion for either. She is an
elegant creature however & hugs M r Younge delight-
fully. —
I am going this morning to see the little girls in
Keppel Street. Cassy was excessively interested about
your marrying, when she heard of it, which was not
till she was to drink your health on the wedding day.
She asked a thousand questions, in her usual way —
What he said to you ? & what you said to him ? — •
And we were very much amused one day by Mary
Jane’s asking ‘ what Month her Cousin Benjamin was
born in ? ’ —
If your Uncle were at home he would send his best
Love, but I will not impose any base, fictitious remem-
brance on You. — Mine I can honestly give, & remain
Y r affec: Aunt
J. Austen
23 Hans Place
( 415 )
1061
From Hans Place to Fanny Knight
106. To Fanny Knight. Wednesday 30 Nov. <1814)
Address : Miss Knight | Godmersham Park | Faversham
Postmark : 2 <de ?> 1814
Lord Brabourne, 2 leaves 4°. Endorsed ‘No. 7 Nov r 1814*
Facsimile in Five Letters from Jane Austen to Fanny Knight,
Oxford 1924.
Brabourne ii. 284 ; Life 308, 345 (extracts). A few words unpub-
lished.
23 Hans Place, Wednesday Nov: 30.
I am very much obliged to you my dear Fanny for
your letter, & I hope you will write again soon that
I may know you to be all safe & happy at home. —
Our visit to Hendon will interest you I am sure, but
I need not enter into the particulars of it, as your
Papa will be able to answer almost every question.
I certainly could describe her bed-room, & her Drawers
& her Closet better than he can, but I do not feel that
I can stop to do it. — I was rather sorry to hear that
she is to have an Instrument ; it seems throwing
money away. They will wish the 24 Gs. in the shape
of Sheets & Towels six months hence ; — and as to her
playing, it never can be anything— Her purple Pelisse
rather surprised me. — I thought we had known all
Paraphernalia of that sort. I do not mean to blame
her, it looked very well & I dare say she wanted it.
I suspect nothing worse than it’s being got in secret,
& not owned to anybody. — She is capable of that you
know. — I received a very kind note from her yester-
day, to ask me to come again & stay a night with them ;
I cannot do it, but I was pleased to find that she had
the power of doing so right a thing. My going was to
give them both Pleasure very properly. — I just saw
Mr. Hayter at the Play, & think his face would please
(416 )
Wednesday 80 November 1814 [100
me on acquaintance. I was sorry he did not dine here.
— It seemed rather odd to me to be in the Theatre, with
nobody to watch for. I was quite composed myself, at
leisure for all the agitation Isabella could raise.
Now my dearest Fanny, I will begin a subject which
comes in very naturally. — You frighten me out of my
wits by your reference. Your affection gives me the
highest pleasure, but indeed you must not let anything
depend on my opinion. Your own feelings & none but
your own, should determine such an important point.
— So far however as answering your question, I have
no scruple. — I am perfectly convinced that your
present feelings supposing you were to marry now,
would be sufficient for his happiness ; — but when
I think how very, very far it is from a Now, & take
everything that may be, into consideration, I dare not
say, ‘ Determine to accept him.’ The risk is too great
for you, unless your own Sentiments prompt it. — You
will think me perverse perhaps ; in my last letter
I was urging everything in his favour, & now I am
inclining the other way ; but I cannot help it ; I am at
present more impressed with the possible Evil that
may arise to you from engaging yourself to him — in
word or mind — than with anything else. — When I con-
sider how few young Men you have yet seen much of —
how capable you are (yes, I do still think you very
capable) of being really in love — and how full of
temptation the next 6 or 7 years of your Life will
probably be — (it is the very period of Life for the
strongest attachments to be formed) — I cannot wish
you with your present very cool feelings to devote
yourself in honour to him. It is very true that you
never may attach another Man, his equal altogether,
(417) Ee
106] From Hans Place to Fanny Knight
but if that other Man has the power of attaching you
more, he will be in your eyes the most perfect. — I shall
be glad if you can revive past feelings, & from your
unbiassed self resolve to go on as you have done, but
this I do not expect, and without it I cannot wish you
to be fettered. I should not be afraid of your marrying
him ; — with all his worth, you would soon love him
enough for the happiness of both ; but I should dread
the continuance of this sort of tacit engagement, with
such an uncertainty as there is, of when it may be
completed. — Years may pass, before he is Indepen*
dant. — You like him well enough to marry, but not
well enough to wait. — The unpleasantness of appearing
fickle is certainly great — but if you think you want
Punishment for past Illusions, there it is — and nothing
can be compared to the misery of being bound without
Love, bound to one, & preferring another. That is
a Punishment which you do not deserve. — I know you
did not meet — or rather will not meet today — as he
called here yesterday — & I am glad of it. — It does not
seem very likely at least that he sh a be in time for
a Dinner visit 60 miles off. We did not see him, only
found his card when we came home at 4. — Your
Uncle H. merely observed that he was a day after the
Fair. — -He asked your Brother on Monday, (when
Mr. Hayter was talked of) why he did not invite him
too ? — saying, ‘ I know he is in Town, for I met him
the other day in Bond St. — ’Edward answered that he
did not know where he was to be found. — ‘ Don’t you
know his chambers ? — ’ ‘ No.’ — I shall be most glad
to hear from you again my dearest Fanny, but it must
not be later than Saturday, as we shall be off on
Monday long before the Letters are delivered and
( 418 )
Wednesday 80 November 1814 [106
write something that may do to be read or told. I am
to take the Miss Moores back on Saturday, & when
*
I return I shall hope to find your pleasant, little,
flowing scrawl on the Table. — It will be a releif to me
after playing at Ma’ams — for though I like Miss II. M.
as much as one can at my time of Life after a day’s
acquaintance, it is uphill work to be talking to those
whom one knows so little. Only one comes back with
me tomorrow, probably Miss Eliza, & I rather dread
it. We shall not have two Ideas in common. She is
young, pretty, chattering, & thinking cheifly (I pre-
sume) of Dress, Company, & Admiration. — Mr. San-
ford is to join us at dinner, which will be a comfort,
and in the even* while your Uncle and Miss Eliza play
chess, he shall tell me comical things & I will laugh at
them, which will be a pleasure to both. — I called in
Keppel Street & saw them all, including dear Uncle
Charles, who is to come & dine with us quietly today.—
Little Harriot sat in my lap — & seemed as gentle and
affectionate as ever, & as pretty, except not being
quite well. — Fanny is a fine stout girl, talking inces-
santly, with an interesting degree of Lisp and Indis-
tinctness — and very likely may be the handsomest in
time.— That puss Cassy, did not shew more pleasure
in seeing me than her Sisters, but I expected no
better ; — she does not shine in the tender feelings.
She will never be a Miss O’Neal ; — more in the Mrs.
Siddons line. —
Thank you — but it is not settled yet whether I do
hazard a 2 a Edition. We are to see Egerton today,
when it will probably be determined. — People are more
ready to borrow & praise, than to buy — which I can-
not wonder at ; — but tho’ I like praise as well as any-
(419 )
100] From Hans Place to Fanny Knight
body, I like what Edward calls Pewter too. — I hope he
continues careful of his eyes & finds the good effect of it.
I cannot suppose we differ in our ideas of the
Christian Religion. You have given an excellent
description of it. We only affix a different meaning
to the Word Evangelical.
Yours most affec ly
J. Austen
Miss Gibson is very glad to go with us.
107. To Anna Lefroy. Wednesday {Dec. 1814)
No address or postmark.
Miss Isabel Lefroy. One leaf 8°, 7J x 4^, the other leaf lost. Page 2
ends some hint of St. Julian's early . Lord Brabourne must have
seen the missing leaf, unless he finished the sentence by conjecture.
Memoir 1 121, Memoir 2 92 (extract) ; Brabourne ii. 322 ; Life 301.
The concluding paragraph printed by Lord Brabourne does not
belong to this letter ; see the next letter. The Memoir dates this
letter November ; but see Life 361.
Hans Place. Wednesday
My dear Anna
I have been very far from finding your Book an Evil
I assure you; I read it immediately— & with great
pleasure. I think you are going on very well. The
description of Dr. Griffin & Lady Helena’s unhappi-
ness is very good, just what was likely to be. — I am
curious to know what the end of them will be : The
name of Newton-Priors is really invaluable 1 — I never
met with anything superior to it. — It is delightful —
One could live upon the name of Newton-Priors for
a twelvemonth. — Indeed, I do think you get on very
fast. I wish other people of my acquaintance could
compose as rapidly. — I am pleased with the Dog
scene, & with the whole of George & Susan’s Love ;
( 420 )
Wednesday December 1814 [107
but am more particularly struck with your serious
conversations &c.— They are very good throughout —
St. Julian’s History was quite a surprise to me ; You
had not very long known it yourself I suspect but
I have no objection to make to the circumstance—
it is very well told— & his having been in love with
the Aunt, gives Cecilia an additional Interest with
him. I like the Idea a very proper compliment to
an Aunt ! — I rather imagine indeed that Neices are
seldom chosen but in compliment to some Aunt or other.
I daresay Ben was in love with me once, & w^ never
have thought of you if he had not supposed me dead
of a scarlet fever. — Yes, I was in a mistake as to the
number of Books. I thought I had read 8 before the
3 at Chawton ; but fewer than 6 will not do. — I want
to see dear Bell Griffin again.— Had not you better
give some hint of St. Julian’s early history in the
beginning of the story ?
108. (To Anna Lefroy .)
No address or postmark. tJ
Miss Isabel Lefroy. A scrap of a 4° leaf, 7J X (about) 2\. One side
begins which is quite, ends not to he in print ; the other begins
. natural. Mfk Cossart, ends wishes. A lost fragment of the same
letter is printed in the Memoir. >
Memoir 1 173, Memoir 2 131 (begins We have got ‘ Rosanne , ends
rather my passion ) ; Memoir 1 116, Memoir 2 89 (begins So, Miss B.
is actually married, ends not to be in print) ; Brabourne ii. 323 (mis-
placed ; begins We shall see nothing, ends not to be in print) ; Life
362. The final scrap is distinct from that in the Memoir except for
the sentence about M" e Cossart (which serves to unite them) and is
unpublished. (See note on the foregoing letter.)
which is quite against my skm & conscience.
We shall see nothing of Streatham while we are in
Town ; — M r * Hill is to lye-in of a Daughter early in
(421 )
108] From Chawton to Anna Lefroy
March. — M rs Blackstone is to be with her. M rs Heath-
cote & Miss Bigg are just leaving her ; the latter
writes me word that Miss Blachford is married, but
I have never seen it in the Papers. And one may as
well be single, if the Wedding is not to be in print. — , , .
We have got ‘ Rosanne ’ in our Society, and find it
much as you describe it ; very good and clever, but
tedious. Mrs. Hawkins’ great excellence is on serious
subjects. There are some very delightful conversa-
tions and reflections on religion : but on lighter topics
I think she falls into many absurdities ; and, as to
love, her heroine has very comical feelings. There are
a thousand improbabilities in the story. Do you
remember the two Miss Ormesdens, introduced just at
last ? Very flat and unnatural.— M Ue Cossart is
rather my passion.— Miss Gibson returned to the G l
House last friday, & is pretty well, but not entirely
so. Capt n Clement has very kindly offered to drive
her out, & she would like it very much, but no day
has yet been quite good enough, or else she has not
been otherwise equal to it. — She sends you her Love
< nearly a line missing) & wishes
109. To Anna Lefroy. < Nov . or Dec. 1814 ?)
No address or postmark.
R. A. Austen-Leigh. A scrap.
Memoir 1 173, Memoir 2 131. (The writer of the Memoir gives the
authors of the opinions as Mr. (sic) C. and Mr. D.) Part unpub-
lished. The reference to Hendon fixes the date ; J. A. was in
Hans Place again in Oct.-Dec. 1815, but the Lefroys were then no
longer at Hendon.
M rs Creed’s opinion is gone down on my list ; but
fortunately I may excuse myself from entering M r
(422 )
November or December 1814 [109
(word cut out > as my paper only relates to Mansfield
Park. I will redeem my credit with him, by writing
a close Imitation of * Self-control ’ as soon as I can ;
I will improve upon it my Heroine shall not merely
be wafted down an American river in a boat by hersell,
she shall cross the Atlantic in the same way, & never
stop till she reaches Gravesent. — . . . that depends on
us to secure it, but you mu<st be) aware that in
another person’s house one cannot command one s
own time or actions, & though your Uncle Henry is
so kind as to give us the use of a Carriage while we are
with him, it may not be possible for us to turn that
Carriage towards Hendon without actually mounting
the Box ourselves Your Uncle arrived yesterday by
the Gosport — (and only think of the Gosport not being
here till 1 /2 past 4 ! — I (a line missing > and takes . . .
110. To Anna Lefroy. Friday 29 September (1815)
No address or postmark.
Miss Isabel Lefroy. One leaf 4°, the other leaf lost. Facsimile in
Constance Hill, Jane Austen, Her Homes and her Friends, 1902.
Braboume ii. 324.
Chawton, Friday Sept 1 29.
My dear Anna
We told Mr. B. Lefroy that if the weather did not
prevent us, we should certainly come & see you
tomorrow, & bring Cassy, trusting to your being so
good as to give her a dinner about one o’clock, that we
might be able to be with you the earlier & stay the
longer— but on giving Cassy her choice of the Fair or
Wyards, it must be confessed that she has preferred
the former, which we trust will not greatly affront
you ; — if it does, you may hope that some little Anna
( 428 )
110] From Chawton to Anna Lefroy
hereafter may revenge the insult by a similar prefer-
ence of an Alton Fair to her Cousin Cassy. — In the
meanwhile, we have determined to put off our visit
to you till Monday, which we hope will be not less
convenient to you. I wish the weather may not
resolve upon other put-offs. I must come to you before
Wednesday if it be possible, for on that day I am
going to London for a week or two with your Uncle
Henry, who is expected here on Sunday. If Monday
therefore should appear too dirty for walking, and
Mr. B. L. would be so kind as to come & fetch me to
spend some part of the morn 8 with you, I should be
much obliged to him. Cassy might be of the Party, and
your Aunt Cassandra will take another opportunity.
Your G. Mama sends her Love & Thanks for your
note. She was very happy to hear the contents of
your Packing Case. — She will send the Strawberry
roots by Sally Benham, as early next week as the
weather may allow her to take them up. —
Yours very affec: ly
My dear Anna
J. Austen
111. To Cassandra Austen. Tuesday 17 Oct. 1815
Address : To Miss Austen | Chawton | Alton
Postmark : 18 oc 1815
Sotheby 3 May 1948 ; formerly in the collection described in Times
Literary Supplement 14 Jan. 1926.
Life 809 (extracts). Mostly unpublished.
Hans Place Tuesday Oct. 17 [1815]
My dear Cassandra
Thank you for your two letters ; I am very glad the
new cook begins so well. Good apple pies are a con-
( 424 )
Tuesday 17 October 1815 [111
siderable part of our domestic happiness. Mr. Murray’s
letter is come. He is a rogue of course, but a civil one.
He offers £450 but wants to have the copyright of
M. P. & S. & S. included. It will end in my publishing for
myself I daresay. He sends more praise however than
I expected. It is an amusing letter. You shall see it.
Henry came home on Sunday & we dined the same
day with the Herrieses — a large family party — clever
& accomplished. I had a pleasant visit the day before.
Mr. Jackson is fond of eating & does not much like
M r or Miss P. What weather we have ! What shall
we do about it. The 17th of October & summer still.
Henry is not quite well — a bilious attack with fever.
He came back early from H. S* yesterday & went to
bed — the comical consequence of which was that
M r Seymour & I dined together tete-a-tete. He is
calomeling & therefore in a way to be better & I hope
may be well to-morrow. The Creeds of Hendon dine
here to-day, which is rather unlucky, for he will
hardly be able to shew himself, & they are all strangers
to me. He has asked M r Tilson to come & take his
place. I doubt our being a very agreeable pair. We
are engaged to-morrow to Cleveland Row. I was
there yesterday morning. There seems no idea now of
M r Gordan’s going to Chawton — nor of any of the
family coming here at present. Many of them are
sick.
Wednesday. Henry’s illness is more serious than
I expected. He has been in bed since three o’clock
on Monday. It is a fever — something bilious but
chiefly inflammatory. I am not alarmed but I
have determined to send this letter to-day by the
post, that you may know how things are going on.
( 425 )
Ill] From Hans Place to Chawton
There is no chance of his being able to leave town on
Saturday. I asked M r Haydon that question to-day.
M r H. is the apothecary from the comer of Sloane S‘,
successor to M r Smith, a young man, said to be clever,
& he is certainly very attentive, & appears hitherto to
have understood the complaint. There is a little pain
in the chest, but it is not considered of any conse-
quence. M r H. calls it a general inflammation. He
took twenty ounces of blood from Henry last night,
& nearly as much more this morning, & expects to
have to bleed him again to-morrow— but he assures
me that he found him quite as much better to-day as he
expected. Henry is an excellent patient, lies quietly
in bed & is ready to swallow anything. He lives upon
medicine, tea & barley-water. He has had a great deal
of fever but not much pain of any sort, & sleeps
pretty well. His going to Chawton will probably end
in nothing, as his Oxfordshire business is so near : as
for myself you may be sure I shall return as soon as
I can— Tuesday is in my brain, but you will feel the
uncertainty of it. I want to get rid of some of my
things & therefore shall send down a parcel by Collier
on Saturday. Let it be paid for on my own account. It
will be mostly dirty cloathes, but I shall add Martha s
lambswool, your muslin handles. (India at 3/6) your
pens 3 d & some articles for Mary if I receive them
in time from M rs Hore. Cleveland Row of course is
given up. M r Tilson took a note there this morning.
Till yesterday afternoon I was hoping that the medi-
cine he had taken with a good night’s rest would set
him quite to rights. I fancied it only bile but they say
the disorder must have originated in a cold. You
must fancy Henry in the back-room upstairs, & 1 am
( 426 )
Tuesday 17 October 1815 [111
generally there also, working or writing. I wrote to
Edward yesterday to put off our nephews till Friday.
I have a strong idea of their Uncle’s being well enough
to like seeing them [by] that time. I shall write to
you next by my parcel — two days hence unless there
is anything particular to be communicated before,
always excepted. The post has this moment brought
me a letter from Edward. He is likely to come here
on Tuesday next for a day or two’s necessary business
in his cause.
Mrs. Hore wishes to observe to Frank & Mary that
she doubts their finding it answer to have chests of
drawers bought in London when the expense of
carriage is considered. The two Miss Gibsons called
here on Sunday & brought a letter for Mary, which
shall also be put into the parcel. Miss G. looked par-
ticularly well. I have not been able to return their
call. I want to get to Keppel S‘ again if I can, but it
must be doubtful. The Creeds are agreeable people
themselves but I fear must have had a very dull visit.
I long to know how Martha’s plans go on. If you have
not written before, write by Sunday’s post to Hans
Place. I shall be more than ready for news of you by
that time. A change of weather at last — wind & rain.
M rs Tilson has just called. Poor woman — she is quite
a wretch — always ill. God bless you.
Y rs affec tely J. A.
Uncle Henry was very much amused with Cassy’s
message, but if she were here now with the red shawl
she would make him laugh more than would do him
good.
( 427 )
112] From Hans Place to Caroline Austen
112. To Caroline Austen . Monday 80 Oct . <1815)
No address or postmark.
L. A. Austen-Leigh. One leaf 8°, the other leaf almost all lost.
Life 865. Part unpublished.
Hans Place, Monday nig<ht> Oct: 80.
My dear Caroline
I have not yet felt quite equal to taking up your
Manuscript, but think I shall soon, & I hope my detain-
ing it so long will be no inconvenience. — It gives us
great pleasure that you should be at Chawton, I am
sure Cassy must be delighted to have you.— You will
practise your Music of course, & I trust to you for
taking care of my Instrument & not letting it be ill
used in any respect.— Do not allow anything to be put
on it, but what is very light— I hope you will try to
make out some other tune besides the Hermit. — Tell
your Grandmama that I have written to M ra Cooke to
congratulate her, & that I have heard from Scarlets
today ; they were much shocked by the preparatory
Letter which I felt obliged to send last Wednesday,
but had been made comfortable in comparison, by the
receipt of my friday’s Letter. Your Papa wrote again
by this Post, so that I hope they are now easy.— I am
sorry you got wet in your ride ; Now that you are
become an Aunt, you are a person of some conse-
quence & must excite great Interest whatever you
do. I have always maintained the importance of
Aunts as much as possible, & I am sure of your doing
the same now. — Beleive me my dear Sister-Aunt,
Yours affec ly
J. Austen
( 428 )
Wednesday 15 November 1815 [118
118. To James Stanier Clarke. < Wednesday > 15 Nov.
1815
No address or postmark.
Pierpont Morgan Library (1925). Formerly in the collection
described in Times Literary Supplement 14 Jan. 1920. One leaf.
Endorsed 4 Copy of my Letter to M r Clarke, Nov : 15, 1815.’
AfemoiV 1 149, Memoir * 112 ; Life 812.
Sir
I must take the liberty of asking you a question. —
Among the many flattering attentions which I rec 4
from you at Carlton House on Monday last, was the
Information of my being at liberty to dedicate any
future work to HRH. the P. R. without the necessity
of any solicitation on my part. Such at least, I be-
leived to be your words ; but as I am very anxious to
be quite certain of what was intended, I intreat you
to have the goodness to inform me how such a Per-
mission is to be understood, & whether it is incumbent
on me to shew my sense of the Honour, by inscribing
the Work now in the Press, to H.R.H. — I sh d be equally
concerned to appear either Presumptuous or Un-
grateful. — , 0
b lam &c —
118a. From James Stanier Clarke. < Thursday >
16 Nov. 1815
Address : Miss Austen | N° 23 | Hans Place | Sloane Street
Postmark : Jermyn St, and 16 no 1815
Pierpont Morgan Library. From the same collection as N° 118.
Carlton House Nov r : 16 th : 1815.
Dear Madam.
It is certainly not incumbent on you to dedicate
your work now in the Press to His Royal Highness :
but if you wish to do the Regent that honour either
( 429 )
From J. S. Clarke
113 a]
now or at any future period, I am happy to send you
that permission which need not require any more
trouble or solicitation on your Part.
Your late Works, Madam, and in particular Mans-
field Park reflect the highest honour on your Genius
& your Principles ; in every new work your mind seems
to increase its energy and powers of discrimination.
The Regent has read & admired all your publications.
Accept my sincere thanks for the pleasure your
Volumes have given me : in the perusal of them I felt
a great inclination to write & say so. And I also dear
Madam wished to be allowed to ask you, to delineate
in some future W ork the Habits of Life and Character
and enthusiasm of a Clergyman — who should pass his
time between the metropolis & the Country — who
should be something like Beatties Minstrel
Silent when glad, affectionate tho’ shy
And now his look was most demurely sad
& now he laughd aloud yet none knew why —
Neither Goldsmith — nor La Fontaine in his Tableau
de Famille — have in my mind quite delineated an
English Clergyman, at least of the present day — Fond
of, & entirely engaged in Literature — no man’s Enemy
but his own. Pray dear Madam think of these things.
Believe me at all times
With sincerity & respect
Your faithful & obliged Servant
J. S. Clarke
Librarian.
P. S.
I am going for about three weeks to Mr. Henry
Streatfeilds, Chiddingstone Sevenoaks — but hope on
my return to have the honour of seeing you again.
( 430 )
November 1815
[114
114. (To John Murray .) (Nov. 1815)
No address or postmark.
Earl Stanhope, to whose ancestor the then Mr. Murray gave it in
1870.
Draft or copy, Bodleian*
Unpublished.
Sir
My Brother’s severe Illness has prevented his reply-
ing to Yours of Oct. 15, on the subject of the MS of
Emma, now in your hands — and as he is though
recovering, still in a state which we are fearful of
harrassing by Business & I am at the same time
desirous of coming to some decision on the affair in
question, I must request the favour of you to call on
me here, any day that may suit you best, at any hour
in the Evening, or any in the Morning except from
Eleven to One. — A short conversation may perhaps do
more than much writing.
My Brother begs his Comp ,fl & best thanks for
your polite attention in supplying him with a copy of
Waterloo.
I am Sir
Your Ob. Hum: Serv 1
Jane Austen
115. To John Murray. Thursday 23 Nov. <1815)
Address : lost.
Original not traced.
Memoir 3 122 (from a copy communicated by Mr. Murray) ; Life 314.
23 Hans Place, Thursday, November 23 (1815).
Sir
My brother’s note last Monday has been so fruitless,
that I am afraid there can be but little chance of my
( 431 )
115] From Hans Place to John Murray
writing to any good effect ; but yet I am so very much
disappointed and vexed by the delays of the printers,
that I cannot help begging to know whether there is
no hope of their being quickened. Instead of the
work being ready by the end of the present month, it
will hardly, at the rate we now proceed, be finished by
the end of the next ; and as I expect to leave London
early in December, it is of consequence that no more
time should be lost. Is it likely that the printers will
be influenced to greater dispatch and punctuality by
knowing that the work is to be dedicated, by per-
mission, to the Prince Regent ? If you can make that
circumstance operate, I shall be very glad. My brother
returns ‘ Waterloo ’ with many thanks for the loan of
it. We have heard much of Scott’s account of Paris.
If it be not incompatible with other arrangements,
would you favour us with it, supposing you have any
set already opened ? You may depend upon its being
in careful hands.
I remain, Sir, your ob‘ humble Se‘
J. Austen
116. To Cassandra Austen . Friday 24 Nov. 1815
Address : Miss Austen, Chawton
Postmark : none.
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Braboume ii. 249 ; Life 315 (extracts). One sentence unpublished.
Hans Place, Friday Nov: 24.
My dearest Cassandra
I have the pleasure of sending you a much better
account of my affairs, which I know will be a great
delight to you. I wrote to Mr. Murray yesterday
( 432 )
Friday 24 November 1815 [116
myself, & Henry wrote at the same time to Roworth.
Before the notes were out of the House, I received
three sheets, & an apology from R. We sent the notes
however, & I had a most civil one in reply from Mr. M.
He is so very polite indeed, that it is quite overcoming.
— The Printers have been waiting for Paper — the blame
is thrown upon the Stationer— but he gives his word
that I shall have no farther cause for dissatisfaction.
He has lent us Miss Williams & Scott , & says that any
book of his will always be at my service. — In short, I am
soothed & complimented into tolerable comfort.
We had a visit yesterday from Edw d Knight, &
Mr. Mascall joined him here and this morning has
brought Mr. Mascall’s Compt 0 & two Pheasants. — We
have some hope of Edward’s coming to dinner today ;
he will, if he can I beleive— He is looking extremely
well. — Tomorrow Mr. Haden is to dine with us. —
There’s Happiness !— We really grow so fond of Mr.
Haden that I do not know what to expect. — He, &
Mr. Tilson & Mr. Philips made up our circle of Wits
last night ; Fanny played, & he sat & listened &
suggested improvements, till Richard came in to tell
him that ‘ the Doctor was waiting for him at Capt D
Blake’s ’ — and then he was off with a speed that you
can imagine. He never does appear in the least abov e
his Profession, or out of humour with it, or I should
think poor Capt“ Blake, whoever he is, in a very
bad way. —
I must have misunderstood Henry, when I told you
that you were to hear from him today. He read me
what he wrote to Edward ; — part of it must have
amused him I am sure ; — one part alas ! cannot be
very amusing to anybody. — I wonder that with such
( 433 ) F f
116] From Hans Place to Chawton
Business to worry him, he can be getting better, but
he certainly does gain strength, & if you & Edw a were
to see him now I feel sure that you would think him
improved since Monday. He was out yesterday, it
was a fine sunshiney day here — (in the Country perhaps
you might have Clouds & fogs— Dare I say so ?—
I shall not deceive ym, if I do, as to my estimation of
the Climate of London) — & he ventured, first on the
Balcony, & then as far as the Greenhouse. He caught
no cold, & therefore has done more today with great
delight, & self-persuasion of Improvement ; he has
been to see Mrs. Tilson & the Malings. — By the bye,
you may talk to Mr. T. of his wife’s being better,
I saw her yesterday & was sensible of her having
gained ground in the last two days. —
Evening. — We have had no Edward. — Our circle is
formed ; only Mr. Tilson & Mr. Haden. — We are not
so happy as we were. A message came this afternoon
from Mrs. Latouche & Miss East, offering themselves
to drink tea with us tomorrow — & as it was accepted,
here is an end of our extreme felicity in our Dinner-
Guest. — I am heartily sorry they are coming ! It will
be an Even 8 spoilt to Fanny & me. Another little
Disappointment. — Mr. H. advises Henry’s not ven-
turing with us in the Carriage tomorrow ; — if it were
Spring, he says, it w d be a different thing. One would
rather this had not been. He seems to think his going
out today rather imprudent, though acknowledging
at the same time that he is better than he was. in the
Morn 8 . — Fanny has had a Letter full of commissions
from Goodnestone ; we shall be busy about them &
her own matters I dare say from 12 to 4. — Nothing
I trust will keep us from Keppel Street. — This day has
(434)
Friday 24 November 1815 [116
brought a most friendly letter from Mr. Fowle, with
a brace of Pheasants. I did not know before that
Henry had written to him a few days ago, to ask for
them. We shall live upon Pheasants ; no bad Life ! —
I send you five one pound notes, for fear you should
be distressed for little Money. — Lizzy’s work is charm-
ingly done. Shall you put it to your Chintz ? — A sheet
come in this moment. l Bt &3 d vol. arenowatl44. — 2 d at
48. — I am sure you will like Particulars. — We are notto
have the trouble of returning the sheets to Mr. Murray
any longer, the Printer’s boys bring & carry.
I hope Mary continues to get well fast — & I send my
Love to little Herbert. — You will tell me more of
Martha’s plans of course when you write again. —
Remember me most kindly to everybody, & Miss Benn
besides. — Yours very affec ly J. Austen
I have been listening to dreadful Insanity. — It is
Mr. Haden’s firm beleif that a person not musical is fit
for every sort of Wickedness. I ventured to assert a little
on the other side, but wished the cause in abler hands. —
Supposing the weather sh d be very bad on Sunday
Even 8 1 shall not like to send Richard out you know—
& in that case, my Dirty Linen must wait a day.
117. To Cassandra Austen. Sunday 26 Nov. <1815)
Address : Miss Austen
Postmark : none.
(Formerly) H. V. Marrot. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabourne ii. 253 ; Life 316 (extracts). A few lines unpublished.
Hans Place. Sunday Nov: 26.
My Dearest
The Parcel arrived safely, & I am much obliged to
you for your trouble. It cost 2 s 10 — but as there is
( 435 )
117] From Hans Place to Chawton
a certain saving of 2 s 4f on the other side, I am sure
it is well worth doing. — I send 4 p r of silk stock* 8 — but
I do not want them washed at present. In the 3 neck-
handfs. I include the one sent down before. — These
things perhaps Edw. may be able to bring, but even
if he is not, I am extremely pleased with his returning
to you from Steventon. It is much better — far prefer-
able. — I did mention the P. R — in my note to Mr.
Murray, it brought me a fine compliment in return ;
whether it has done any other good I do not know, but
Henry thought it worth trying. — The Printers continue
to supply me very well, I am advanced in vol. 3. to my
arra- root, upon which peculiar style of spelling there
is a modest qu : ry ? in the Margin. — I will not forget
Anna’s arrow-root. — I hope you have told Martha of
my first resolution of letting nobody know that I might
dedicate, &c for fear of being obliged to do it — & that
she is thoroughly convinced of my being influenced
now by nothing but the most mercenary motives. — I
have paid nine shillings on her account to Miss Palmer ;
there was no more oweing. — Well — we were very busy
all yesterday ; from \ past 1 1 to 4 in the Streets,
working almost entirely for other people, driving from
Place to Place after a parcel for Sandling which we
could never find, & encountering the miseries of
Grafton House to get a purple frock for Eleanor
Bridges. — We got to Keppel St. however, which was
all I cared for & though we could stay only a q r of an
hour, Fanny’s calling gave great pleasure & her Sensi-
bility still greater, for she was very much affected at
the sight of the Children. — Poor little F. looked heavy .
— We saw the whole party. — Aunt Har r hopes Cassy
will not forget to make a pincushion for Mrs. Kelly —
( 436)
Sunday 26 November 1815 [117
as she has spoken of its being promised her several
times. — I hope we shall see Aunt H. — & the dear little
Girls here on Thursday. —
So much for the morn* ; then came the dinner &
Mr. Haden who brought good Manners & clever con-
versation ; — from 7 to 8 the Harp ; at 8 Mrs. L. &
Miss E. arrived — & for the rest of the even* the Draw*-
room was thus arranged, on the Sopha-side the two
Ladies Henry & myself making the best of it, on the
opposite' side Fanny & Mr. Haden in two chairs (I
believe at least they had two chairs) talking together
uninterruptedly. — Fancy the scene ! And what is to
be fancied next ? — Why that Mr. H. dines here again
tomorrow. — To-day we are to have Mr. Barlow. —
Mr. H. is reading Mansfield Park for the first time and
prefers it to P. and P. — A Hare & 4 Rabbits from Gm.
yesterday, so that we are stocked for nearly a week. —
Poor Farmer Andrews ! I am very sorry for him, &
sincerely wish his recovery. — A better account of the
Sugar than I could have expected. I should like to
help you break some more. — I am glad you cannot
wake early, I am sure you must have been under great
arrears of rest. — Fanny & I have been to B. Chapel, &
walked back with Maria Cuthbert. — We have been
very little plagued with visitors this last week, I re-
member only Miss Herries the Aunt, but I am in terror
for to-day, a fine bright Sunday, plenty of Mortar
& nothing to do. — Henry gets out in his Garden every
day, but at present his inclination for doing more
seems over, nor has he now any plan for leaving
London before Dec: 18, when he thinks of going to
Oxford for a few days ; — to-day indeed, his feelings are
for continuing where he is, through the next two
( 437 )
117] From Hans Place to Chawton
months. One knows the uncertainty of all this, but
should it be so, we must think the best & hope the best
& do the best — and my idea in that case is, that when
he goes to Oxford I should go home & have nearly a
week of you before you take my place. — This is only
a silent project you know, to be gladly given up, if
better things occur. — Henry calls himself stronger
every day & Mr. H. keeps on approving his Pulse
which seems generally better than ever — but still they
will not let him be well. — The fever is not yet quite
removed. — The Medicine he takes (the same as before
you went) is chiefly to improve his Stomach, & only
a little aperient. He is so well, that I cannot think
why he is not perfectly well.— I should not have sup-
posed his Stomach at all disordered but there the
Fever speaks probably ; — but he has no headake, no
sickness, no pains, no Indigestions ! — Perhaps when
Fanny is gone he will be allowed to recover faster.—
I am not disappointed, I never thought the little girl
at Wyards very pretty, but she will have a fine com-
plexion & curling hair & pass for a beauty.— We are
glad the Mama’s cold has not been worse — & send her
our Love — & good wishes by every convenient oppor-
tunity. Sweet amiable Frank ! why does he have a
cold too ? Like Capt Mirvan to M e Duval, ‘ I wish
it well over with him.’
Fanny has heard all that I have said to you about
herself & Mr. H. — Thank you very much for the sight
of dearest Charles’s Letter to yourself. How pleasantly
& how naturally he writes ! and how perfect a picture
of his Disposition & feelings, his style conveys ! — Poor
dear Fellow ! — not a Present ! — I have a great mind
to send him all the twelve Copies which were to have
( 438 )
Sunday 26 November 1816 [117
been dispersed among my near Connections— begin-
ning with the P. R. & ending with Countess Morley.—
Adieu.— Y" affec ,y —
Give my Love to Cassy &
Mary Jane. — Caroline will
be gone when this reaches you.
J. Austen
118. To Cassandra Austen. Saturday 2 Dec. 1815
Address : Miss Austen j Chawton | Alton | Hants
Postmark : de 2 1815
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Braboume ii. 258 ; Life 317 (extracts). A few lines unpublished.
Hans Place, Saturday Dec: 2.
My dear Cassandra
Henry came back yesterday, & might have returned
the day before if he had known as much in time. I had
the pleasure of hearing from Mr. T. on Wednesday
night that Mr. Seymour thought there was not the
least occasion for his absenting himself any longer. —
I had also the comfort of a few lines on Wednesday
mor nin g from Henry himself — (just after your Letter
was gone) giving so good an account of his feelings as
made me perfectly easy. He met with the utmost
care & attention at Hanwell, spent his two days there
very quietly & pleasantly, & being certainly in no
respect the worse for going, we may beleive that he
must be better, as he is quite sure of being himself.—
To make his return a complete Gala, Mr. Haden was
secured for dinner — I need not say that our Even® was
agreable. — But you seem to be under a mistake as to
Mr. H. — You call him an Apothecary; he is no
( 439 )
From Hans Place to Chawton
118 ]
Apothecary, he has never been an Apothecary, there
is not an Apothecary in this Neighbourhood — the only
inconvenience of the situation perhaps, but so it is —
we have not a medical Man within reach — he is a
Haden, nothing but a Haden, a sort of wonderful
nondescript Creature on two legs, something between
a Man & an Angel — but without the least spice of an
Apothecary. — He is perhaps the only Person not an
Apothecary hereabouts. — He has never sung to us.
He will not sing without a P. Fort£ accompaniment.
Mr. Meyers gives his three Lessons a week — altering
his days & his hours however just as he chuses, never
very punctual, & never giving good Measure. — I have
not Fanny’s fondness for Masters, & Mr. Meyers does
not give me any Longing after them. The truth is
I think, that they are all, at least Music Masters, made
of too much consequence & allowed to take too many
Liberties with their Scholar’s time. We shall be
delighted to see Edward on Monday — only sorry that
you must be losing him. A Turkey will be equally
welcome with himself. — He must prepare for his own
proper bedchamber here, as Henry moved down to
the one below last week ; he found the other cold. —
I am sorry my Mother has been suffering, & am afraid
this exquisite weather is too good to agree with her.—
I enjoy it all over me, from top to toe, from right to
left, Longitudinally, Perpendicularly, Diagonally
& I cannot but selfishly hope we are to have it last till
Christmas ; — nice, unwholesome, Unseasonable, relax-
ing, close, muggy weather !— Oh ! thank you very
much for your long Letter ; it did me a great deal of
good. — Henry accepts your offer of making his nine
gallon of Mead, thankfully. The mistake of the Dogs
( 440 )
Saturday 2 December 1815 [118
rather vexed him for a moment, but he has not
thought of it since. — Today, he makes a third attempt
at his strengthening Plaister, & as I am sure he will
now be getting out a great deal, it is to be wished that
he may be able to keep it on. — He sets off this morning
by the Chelsea Coach to sign Bonds and visit Hen-
rietta S*, & I have no doubt will be going every day to
Henrietta S l . — Fanny & I were very snug by ourselves,
as soon as we were satisfied about our Invalid’s being
safe at Hanwell. — By Manoeuvring & good luck we
foiled all the Malings attempts upon us. Happily
I caught a little cold on Wednesday, the morn® we
were in Town, which we made very useful ; & we saw
nobody but our Precious, & Mr. Tilson. — This Evening
the Malings are allowed to drink tea with us. — We are
in hopes, that is, we wish Miss Palmer & the little girls
may come this morning. You know of course, that
she could not come on Thursday ; — & she will not
attempt to name any other day. — I do not think I
shall send down any more Dirty Linen ; it will not
answer when the Car® e is to be paid each way. — I have
got Anna’s arrow-root, & your gloves.
Cod bless you. — Excuse the shortness of this — but
I must finish it now, that I may save you 2 d — Best
love. —
Y rs affec ly
J . A.
It strikes me that I have no business to give theP.R.
a Binding, but we will take Counsel upon the question. —
I am glad you have put the flounce on your Chintz,
I am sure it must look particularly well, & it is what
I had thought of.
119] From Hans Place to Caroline Austen
119. To Caroline Austen. 6 Dec. <1815)
No address or postmark.
L. A. Austen-Leigh. A scrap.
Life 363.
My dear Caroline
I wish I could finish Stories as fast as you can. —
I am much obliged to you for the sight of Olivia, &
think you have done for her very well ; but the good
for nothing Father, who was the real author of all her
Faults and Sufferings, should not escape unpunished.
I hope he hung himself, or took the sur-name of Bone
or underwent some direful penance or other. —
Yours affec ljr
Dec: 6. J. Austen
120. To Janies Stonier Clarke. (Monday} 11 Dec.
1815
Address : lost.
T. Edward Carpenter (1948); copy by J. A. Original not traced.
Memoir 1 162, Memoir 2 114 ; Life 319.
Dec. 11.
Dear Sir
My ‘ Emma ’ is now so near publication that I feel
it right to assure you of my not having forgotten your
kind recommendation of an early copy for Carlton
House, and that I have Mr. Murray’s promise of its
being sent to His Royal Highness, under cover to you,
three days previous to the work being really out.
I must make use of this opportunity to thank you,
dear Sir, for the very high praise you bestow on my
other novels. I am too vain to wish to convince you
that you have praised them beyond their merits.
(442)
Monday 11 December 1815 [120
My greatest anxiety at present is that this fourth work
should not disgrace what was good in the others. But
on this point I will do myself the justice to declare
that, whatever may be my wishes for its success, I am
very strongly haunted with the idea that to those
readers who have preferred ‘Pride and Prejudice’ it
will appear inferior in wit, and to those who have pre-
ferred ‘Mansfield Park’ very inferior in good sense.
Such as it is, however, I hope you will do me the favour
of accepting a copy. Mr. Murray will have directions
for sending one. I am quite honoured by your thinking
me capable of drawing such a clergyman as you gave
the sketch of in your note of Nov. 16th. But I assure
you I am not. The comic part of the character I might
be equal to, but not the good, the enthusiastic, the
literary. Such a man’s conversation must at times
be on subjects of science and philosophy, of which
I know nothing ; or at least be occasionally abundant
in quotations and allusions which a woman who, like
me, knows only her own mother tongue, and has read
very little in that, would be totally without the power
of giving. A classical education, or at any rate a very
extensive acquaintance with English literature, ancient
and modern, appears to me quite indispensable for
the person who would do any justice to your clergy-
man ; and I think I may boast myself to be, with all
possible vanity, the most unlearned and uninformed
female who ever dared to be an authoress.
*
Believe me, dear Sir,
Your obliged and faithful hum bl Ser*.
Jane Austen
( 448 )
120a]
From J. S. Clarice
120a. From James Stanier Clarke . Thursday
<? 21> Dec. 1815
Address : lost.
Pierpont Morgan Library. From the same collection as N° 113.
Carlton House Thursday, 1815
My dear Madam
The Letter you were so obliging as to do me the
Honour of sending, was forwarded to me in Kent,
where in a Village, Chiddingstone near Sevenoaks,
I had been hiding myself from all bustle and turmoil —
and getting Spirits for a Winter Campaign— and
Strength to stand the sharp knives which many a
Shylock is wetting to cut more than a Pound of Flesh
from my heart, on the appearance of James the
Second.
On Monday I go to Lord Egremonts at Petworth—
where your Praises have long been sounded as they
ought to be. I shall then look in on the Party at the
Pavilion for a couple of nights — and return to preach
at Park Street Chapel Green St. on the Thanksgiving
Day.
You were very good to send me Emma — which
I have in no respect deserved. It is gone to the Prince
Regent. I have read only a few Pages which I very
much admired — there is so much nature — and excellent
description of Character in every thing you describe.
Pray continue to write, & make all your friends send
Sketches to help you — and Memoires pour servir— -as
the French term it. Do let us have an English
Clergyman after your fancy — much novelty may be
introduced — shew dear Madam what good would be
done if Tythes were taken away entirely, and describe
( 444 )
Thursday ? 21 December 1815
[120a
him burying his own mother — as I did — because the
High Priest of the Parish in which she died — did not
pay her remains the respect he ought to do. I have
never recovered the Shock. Carry your Clergyman
to Sea as the Friend of some distinguished .Naval
Character about a Court — you can then bring fore-
ward like Le Sage many interesting Scenes of Char-
acter & Interest.
But forgive me, I cannot write to you without
wishing to elicit your Genius ; — & I fear I cannot do
that, without trespassing on your Patience and Good
Nature.
I have desired Mr. Murray to procure, if he can,
two little Works I ventured to publish from being at
Sea — Sermons which I wrote & preached on the
Ocean — & the Edition which I published of Falconers
Shipwreck.
Pray, dear Madam, remember, that besides My Cell
at Carlton House, I have another which D r Barne
procured for me at N°: 37. Golden Square — where
I often hide myself. There is a small Library there
much at your Service — and if you can make the Cell
render you any service as a sort of Half-way House,
when you come to Town — I shall be most happy.
There is a Maid Servant of mine always there.
I hope to have the honour of sending you James
the 2 d when it reaches a second Ed: — as some few
Notes may possibly be then added.
Yours dear Madam, very sincerely
J. S. Clarke.
( 445 )
121] From Hans Place to John Murray
121. To John Murray, {Monday} 11 Dec, <1815)
Address : lost.
Lt. Col. John Murray. One leaf 4°, the other lost.
Memoir 2 122 (from a copy communicated by Mr. Murray) ; Life 318,
Hans Place, Dec: 11 th .
Dear Sir
As I find that Emma is advertized for publication
as early as Saturday next, I think it best to lose no
time in settling all that remains to be settled on the
sub j ect, & adopt this method of doing so, as involving
the smallest tax on your time. —
In the first place, I beg you to understand that I
leave the terms on which the Trade should be supplied
with the work, entirely to your Judgement, entreating
you to be guided in every such arrangement by your
own experience of what is most likely to clear off the
Edition rapidly. I shall be satisfied with whatever
you feel to be best. —
The Title page must be Emma, Dedicated by Per-
mission to H.R.H. The Prince Regent. — And it is my
particular wish that one Set should be completed
& sent to H.R.H. two or three days before the Work
is generally public. — It should be sent under Cover to
the Rev: J. S. Clarke, Librarian, Carlton House —
I shall subjoin a list of those persons, to whom I must
trouble you to forward also a Set each, when the Work
is out ; — all unbound, with From the Authoress, in
the first page.
I return you, with very many Thanks, the Books
you have so obligingly supplied me with. — I am very
sensible I assure you of the attention you have paid
to my Convenience & amusement. I return also
( 446 )
Monday 11 December 1815 [121
‘ Mansfield Park/ as ready for a 2 d edit: I beleive,
as I can make it. —
I am in Hans Place till the 16 th . From that day,
inclusive, my direction will be, Chawton, Alton, Hants.
1 remain dear Sir,
Y r faithful Hum. Serv*
J. Austen
I wish you would have the goodness to send a line
by the Bearer, stating the day on which the set will
be ready for the Prince Regent. —
122. To John Murray. < Monday > 11 Dec. <1815)
Address ; lost.
Original not traced.
Memoir* 124 (from a copy communicated by Mr. Murray) ; Life 819.
Hans Place, December 11 (1815).
Dear Sir
I am much obliged by yours, and very happy to
feel everything arranged to our mutual satisfaction.
As to my direction about the title-page, it was arising
from my ignorance only, and from my having never
noticed the proper place for a dedication. I thank
you for putting me right. Any deviation from what
is usually done in such cases is the last thing I should
wish for. I feel happy in having a friend to save me
from the ill effect of my own blunder.
Yours, dear Sir, &c.
J. Austen
122 . 1 . To Charles Thomas Haden. Thursday
<14 Dec. 1815). See p. 510
( 447 )
From Lady Morley
128a]
123a. From the Countess of Morley. < Wednesday )
27 Dec. 1815
Address : lost*
Postmark : lost.
Cambridge University Library. One leaf S°,
See N° 123.
, , , Saltram 27 th Dec 1
Madam
I have been most anxiously waiting for an intro-
duction to Emma, & am infinitely obliged to you for
your kind recollection of me, which will procure me the
pleasure of her acquaintance some days sooner than
I sh d otherwise have had it.— I am already become
intimate in the Woodhouse family, & feel that they
will not amuse & interest me less than the Bennetts,
Bertrams, Norriss & all their admirable predecessors.
— I can give them no higher praise —
I am
Madam
Y r much obliged
F Morley
123. To the Countess of Morley. < Sunday >
31 Dec. 1815
No address or postmark.
Mrs. Henry Burke. One leaf 8°.— Cambridge University Library
(1925): Copy by J. A. ; Lady Morley’s letter is preserved with it,
Memoir 1 140, Memoir 2 126; Life 326 (extract).
Chawton Dec : 31
Madam
Accept my Thanks for the honour of your note, &
for your kind disposition in favour of Emma. In my
present state of doubt as to her reception in the
( 448 )
Sunday 81 December 1815 [128
World, it is particularly gratifying to me to receive
so early an assurance of your Ladyship’s approbation.
— It encourages me to depend on the same share of
general good opinion which Emma’s Predecessors have
experienced, & to believe that I have not yet — as
almost every Writer of Fancy does sooner or later —
overwritten myself. — I am Madam,
Y our obliged & faith 1 Serv 1
J. Austen
124. (To Anna Lefroy. ?Dec. 1815)
No address.
R. A. Austen-Leigh. A scrap.
Memoir 1 203, Memoir z 148. A few words unpublished. Copies of
Emma were in circulation in December 1815. Anna Jemima Lefroy
was born 20 Oct. 1815.
My dear Anna
As I wish very much to see your Jemima, I am sure
you will like to see my Emma, & have therefore great
pleasure in sending it for your perusal. Keep it as
long as you chuse, it has been read by all here. —
125. To Caroline Austen. Wednesday 13 March
<1816)
Address : Miss C. Austen | Steventon
Postmark : none.
L. A. Austen-Leigh. 2 leaves 8°.
Life 365 (misdated 1815). A few lines unpublished.
Chawton Wednesday March 13.
My dear Caroline
I am very glad to have an opportunity of answering
your agreable little Letter. You seem to be quite my
( 449 ) Ge
125] From Chawton to Caroline Austen
own Neice in your feelings towards M de de Genlis.
I do not think I could even now, at my sedate time of
Life, read Olimpe et Theophile without being in a rage.
It really is too bad ! — Not allowing them to be happy
together, when they are married. — Don’t talk of it,
pray. I have just lent your Aunt Frank the 1 st vol.
of Les Veillees du Chateau, for Mary Jane to read.
It will be some time before she comes to the horror
of Olympe. We have had sad weather lately, I hope
you have liked it. — Our Pond is brimfull & our roads
are dirty & our walls are damp, & we sit wishing every
bad day may be the last. It is not cold however.
Another week perhaps may see us shrinking & shiver-
ing under a dry East Wind.
I had a very nice Letter from your Brother not
long ago, & I am quite happy to see how much his
Hand is improving. — I am convinced that it will end
in a very gentlemanlike Hand, much above Par. —
We have had a great deal of fun lately with Post-
chaises stopping at the door ; three times within a
few days, we had a couple of agreable Visitors turn
in unexpectedly — your Uncle Henry & Mr. Tilson,
M rs Heathcote & Miss Bigg, your Uncle Henry and
M r Seymour. Take notice, that it was the same
Uncle Henry each time.
I remain my dear Caroline,
Your affec: Aunt,
J. Austen
( 450 )
1 .
Wednesday 27 March 1810 [12flo
126a. From James Stanier Clarke. < Wednesday )
27 March 1816
Address : Miss Jane Austen | at Mr Murrays | Albemarle Street |
London. Redirected Chawton Alton Hants. Franked Clarence.
Postmarks : 27 28 and 29 mr 1810
T. Edward Carpenter (194-8) ; the wrapper, Pierpont Morgan Library
(from the same collection as N° 113).
Life 322.
Pavilion : March 27, 1816.
Dear Miss Austen,
I have to return you the thanks of His Royal High-
ness, the Prince Regent, for the handsome copy you
sent him of your last excellent novel. Pray, dear
Madam, soon write again and again. Lord St. Helens
and many of the nobility, who have been staying here,
paid you the just tribute of their praise.
The Prince Regent has just left us for London ; and
having been pleased to appoint me Chaplain and
Private English Secretary to the Prince of Cobourg,
I remain here with His Serene Highness and a select
party until the marriage. Perhaps when you again
appear in print you may chuse to dedicate your
volumes to Prince Leopold : any historical romance,
illustrative of the history of the august House of
Cobourg, would just now be very interesting.
Believe me at all times,
Dear Miss Austen,
Y our obliged friend,
J. S. Clarke.
( 451 )
126]
From Chawton to J. S. Clarke
126. To James Stanier Clarice. < Monday ) 1 April
1816
Address : lost.
T. Edward Carpenter (1948): copy by J. A,
Memoir 1 156, Memoir 2 116; Life 323.
My dear Sir
I am honoured by the Prince’s thanks and very
much obliged to yourself for the kind manner in which
you mention the work. I have also to acknowledge
a former letter forwarded to me from Hans Place.
I assure you I felt very grateful for the friendly tenor
of it, and hope my silence will have been considered,
as it was truly meant, to proceed only from an unwill-
ingness to tax your time with idle thanks. Under
every interesting circumstance which your own talents
and literary labours have placed you in, or the favour
of the Regent bestowed, you have my best wishes.
Your recent appointments I hope are a step to some-
thing still better. In my opinion, the service of a
court can hardly be too well paid, for immense must
be the sacrifice of time and feeling required by it.
You are very very kind in your hints as to the sort of
composition which might recommend me at present,
and I am fully sensible that an historical romance,
founded on the House of Saxe Cobourg, might be
much more to the purpose of profit or popularity than
such pictures of domestic life in country villages as
I deal in. But I could no more write a romance than
an epic poem. I could not sit seriously down to write
a serious romance under any other motive than to
save my life ; and if it were indispensable for me to
keep it up and never relax into laughing at myself or
(452)
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127] From Chawton to John Murray
anything of a larger bulk, you will add to the same
direction, by Collier’s Southampton coach.
I remain, dear Sir,
Yours very faithfully,
J. Austen
128. To Caroline Austen. Sunday 21 April <1816)
No address.
L. A. Austen-Leigh. Copy of the original. Another copy, by
Mrs. Bellas, is in the possession of Miss Isabel Lefroy. Though
apparently a complete letter, the copy seems to represent pages 1-2
only of a 4-page original. See the fragment following.
Unpublished.
Chawton Sunday April 21 e *
My dear Caroline
I am glad to have an opportunity of writing to you
again, for my last Note was written so long before it
was sent, that it seemed almost good for nothing.
The note to your Papa is to announce the death of
that excellent woman Miss EIiz th Leigh ; it came here
this morning enclosed in a letter to Aunt Cassandra.
We all feel that we have lost a most valued old friend ;
but the death of a person at her advanced age, so fit
to die and by her own feelings so ready to die, is not
to be regretted. She has been so kind as to leave a
little remembrance of £20 to your Grandmama.
I have had a letter from Scarlets this morning, with
a very tolerable account of health there. We have
also heard from Godmersham, and the day of your
Uncle and Fanny’s coming is fixed ; they leave home
tomorrow se’night ; spend two days in Town and
are to be with us on Thursday May 2 nd . We are to see
your cousin Edward likewise, but probably not quite
so soon. Your Uncle Henry talks of being in Town
( 454 )
128*1] From Chawton to Caroline Austen
home. — We are almost ashamed to include your Mama
in the invitation, or to askAerto be at the trouble of a long
ride for so few days as we shall be having disengaged,
for we must wash before the G m Party come & there-
fore Monday would be last day that our House could be
comfortable for her ; but if she does feel disposed to
pay us a little visit & you could all come, so much
the better. — We do not like to invite her to come on
Wednesday, to be turned out of the house on Monday.
129. To Anna Lefroy. Sunday 23 June <1816)
No address*
Miss Isabel Lefroy. Copy by Anna Lefroy ’s daughter.
Brabourne ii. 326 .
My dear Anna
Cassy desires her best thanks for the book. She was
quite delighted to see it : I do not know when I have
seen her so much struck by anybody’s kindness as on
this occasion. Her sensibility seems to be opening to
the perception of great actions. These gloves having
appeared on the Piano Forte ever since you were here
on Friday, we imagine they must be yours. Mrs. Dig-
weed returned yesterday through all the afternoon’s
rain and was of course wet through, but in speaking of
it she never once said ‘ It was beyond everything, ’ which
I am sure it must have been. Y our Mama means to ride
to Speen Hill tomorrow to see the Mrs. Hulberts who
are both very indifferent. By all accounts they really
are breaking now. Not so stout as the old Jackass.
Yours affec ateIy J A
Chawton, Sunday, June 23 rd . Uncle Charles’s
birthday.
( 456 )
130] From Chawton to J. Edward Austen
on some business of Uncle Henry’s — & that Aunt
Martha had some business of her own which deter-
mined her to go at the same time ; — but that Aunt
Frank determined to go likewise & spend a few days
with her family, may not be known — nor that two
other places in the Coach were taken by Capt. & M r8
Clement. — Little Cassy went also, & does not return
at present. They are all going to Broadstairs again. —
The Aunt Cass: & the Aunt Martha did not mean to
stay beyond two whole days, but the Uncle Frank &
his Wife proposed being pressed to remain till Saturday.
I am glad you recollected to mention your being
come home. My heart began to sink within me when
I had got so far through your Letter without its being
mentioned. I was dreadfully afraid that you might
be detained at Winchester by severe illness, confined
to your Bed perhaps & quite unable to hold a pen,
& only dating from Steventon in order, with a mis-
taken sort of Tenderness, to deceive me. — But now,
I have no doubt of your being at home, I am sure
you would not say it so seriously unless it actually
were so. — We saw a countless number of Postchaises
full of Boys pass by yesterday morn*— full of future
Heroes, Legislators, Fools, and Villains. — You have
never thanked me for my last Letter, which went by
the Cheese. I cannot bear not to be thanked. You
will not pay us a visit yet of course, we must not
think of it. Your Mother must get well first, & you
must go to Oxford and not be elected ; after that,
a little change of scene may be good for you, & your
Physicians I hope will order you to the Sea, or to a
house by the side of a very considerable pond. Oh !
it rains again ; it beats against the window. Mary
(458)
i
Tuesday 9 July 1816
Jane & I have been wet through once already today,
we set off in the Donkey Carriage for Farringdon as
I wanted to see the improvements Mr. Woolls is
making, but we were obliged to turn back before we
got there, but not soon enough to avoid a Peltcr all
the way home. We met Mr. Woolls — I talked of it’s
being bad weather for the Hay — & he returned me
the comfort of it’s being much worse for the Wheat. —
We hear that Mrs. S — does not quit Tangier — why
& wherefore ? — Do you know that our Browning is
gone ? — You must prepare for a William when you
come, a good looking Lad, civil & quiet, & seeming
likely to do. — Good bye. I am sure Mr. W. D. will be
astonished at my writing so much, for the Paper is so
thin that he will be able to count the Lines, if not to
read them. — Yours affec ly T *
J. Austen
My dear James
We suppose the Trial is to take place this week, but
we only feel sure that it cannot have taken place yet
because we have heard nothing of it. A Letter from
G m today tells us that Henry as well as William K — -
goes to France with his Uncle. —
Y rs ever — J. A.
131. To Caroline Austen. Monday 15 July <1816)
Address : Miss C. Austen | Steventon
Postmark : none.
L. A. Austen-Leigh. Two leaves 8°, the signature cut away from
the second leaf.
Life 364. A few words unpublished.
My dear Caroline
I have followed your directions & find your Hand-
writing admirable. If you continue to improve as
( 459 )
131] From Chawton to Caroline Austen
much as you have done, perhaps I may not be obliged
to shut my eyes at all half a year hence. — I have been
very much entertained by your story of Carolina &
her aged Father, it made me laugh heartily, & I am
particularly glad to find you so much alive upon any
topic of such absurdity, as the usual description of
a Heroine’s father. — You have done it full justice—
or if anything be wanting, it is the information of
the venerable old Man’s having married when only
Twenty one, & being a father at Twenty two.
I had an early opportunity of conveying your
Letter to Mary Jane, having only to throw it out of
window at her as she was romping with your Brother
in the Back Court. — She thanks you for it — & answers
your questions through me. — I am to tell you that she
has passed her time at Chawton very pleasantly in-
deed, that she does not miss Cassy so much as she
expected, & that as to Diana Temple, she is ashamed
to say it has never been worked at since you went
away. — She is very glad that you found Fanny again.
— I suppose you had worn her in your stays without
knowing it, & if she tickled you, thought it only a flea.
Edward’s visit has been a great pleasure to us.
He has not lost one good quality or good Look, &
is only altered in being improved by being some
months older than when we saw him last. He is
getting very near our own age, for we do not grow
older of course.
Chawton
Monday July 15.
( 460 )
Wednesday 4 September 1816 [182
182. To Cassandra Austen. {Wednesday} 4s Sept. 1816
Address : Miss Austen.
Postmark : none.
L. A. Austen-Leigh. One leaf 4°, fragmentary, containing parts of
pages 8-4 of a letter. Endorsed * Dated Chawton Sept. 4 th 1810 ’
and (pencil) ‘ For Caroline ’.
Life 874. Part unpublished.
Letter today. His not writing on friday gave me
some {room, for 12 letters ) coming makes me more
than amends. — I know you heard from Edward
yesterday, Henry wrote to me by the same post, & so
did Fanny — I had therefore 8 Letters at once which
I thought well worth paying for ! Yours was a trea-
sure, so full of everything. — But how very much
Cheltenham is to be preferred in May ! — Henry does
not write diffusely, but chearfully ; — at present he
wishes to come to us as soon as we can receive him —
is decided for Orders &c. — I have written to him to
say that after this week, he cannot come too soon. —
I do not really expect him however immediately ;
they will hardly part with him at G m yet. — Fanny
does not seem any better, or very little ; she ventured
to dine one day at Sandling & has suffered for it ever
since. — I collect from her, that M r Seymour is either
married or on the point of being married to M rs
Scrane. — She is not explicit, because imagining us to
be informed. — I am glad I did not know that you
had no possibility of having a fire on Saturday — & so
glad that you have your Pelisse ! — Your Bed room
describes more comfortably than I could have sup-
posed. — We go on very well here, Edward is a great
pleasure to me ; — he drove me to Alton yesterday ;
I went principally to carry news of you & Henry, &
( 461 )
From Chawton to Cheltenham
made a regular handsome visit, staying there while
Edw d went on to Wyards with an invitation to dinner ;
it was declined, & will be so again today probably,
for I really beleive Anna is not equal to the fatigue. —
The Alton 4 drank tea with us last night, & we were
very pleasant : — Jeu de violon &c. — all new to Mr.
Sweney — & he entered into it very well. — It was a
renewal of former agreable evenings. — We all (except
my Mother) dine at Alton tomorrow — & perhaps may
have some of the same sports again— but I do not
think M r and M ra D. will add much to our wit. —
Edward is writing a Novel — we have all heard what
he has written — it is extremely clever ; written with
great ease and spirit ; — if he can carry it on in the
same way, it will be a first-rate work, & in a style,
I think, to be popular. — Pray tell Mary how much
I admire it. — And tell Caroline that I think it is
hardly fair upon her & myself, to have him take up
the Novel Line, . . . but the coldness of the weather
is enough to account for their want of power. — The
Duchess of Orleans, the paper says, drinks at my
Pump. Your Library will be a great resource. —
Three Guineas a week for such Lodgings ! — I am quite
angry.— Martha desires her Love — & is sorry to tell
you that she has got some Chilblains on her fingers —
she never had them before. — This is to go for a
Letter.
Y n affec ljr
J. Austen
I shall be perfectly satisfied if I hear from you again
on Tuesday.
( 462 )
Sunday 8 September 1816
[188
133. To Cassandra Austen. Sunday 8 Sept. <1816)
Address : Miss Austen | Post Office | Cheltenham
Postmarks : alton and 10 se (year illegible)
Pierpont Morgan Library. 2 leaves 4°.
Brabourne ii. 262 ; Life 875 (extracts).
Chawton, Sunday Sept: 8.
My dearest Cassandra
I have borne the arrival of your Letter today
extremely well ; anybody might have thought it was
giving me pleasure. — I am very glad you find so mucli
to be satisfied with at Cheltenham. While the Waters
agree, everything else is trifling. — A Letter arrived for
you from Charles last Thursday. They are all safe, &
pretty well in Keppel S l , the children decidedly better
for Broadstairs, & he writes principally to ask when
it will be convenient to us to receive Miss P. — the
little girls & himself. — They w d be ready to set off in
ten days from the time of his writing, to pay their
visits in Hampshire & Berkshire — & he would prefer
coming to Chawton first. I have answered him & said,
that we hoped it might suit them to wait till the last
week in Sept r , as we could not ask them sooner, either
on your account, or the want of room. I mentioned
the 23 d , as the probable day of your return. — When
you have once left Cheltenham, I shall grudge every
half day wasted on the road. If there were but a coach
from Hungerford to Chawton ! — I have desired him to
let me hear again soon. — He does not include a Maid in
the list to be accomodated, but if they bring one, as I
suppose they will, we shall have no bed in the house even
then for Charles himself — let alone Henry — . But what
can we do ? — We shall have the G l House quite at our
( 463 )
133] From Chawton to Cheltenham
command ; — it is to be cleared of the Papillons’ Servants
in a day or two ; — they themselves have been hurried off
into Essex to take possession — not of a large Estate left
them by an Uncle — but to scrape together all they
can I suppose of the effects of a Mrs. Rawstorn a rich
old friend & cousin, suddenly deceased, to whom they
ar e j oint Executors . So, there is a happy end of the
Kentish Papillons coming here.
No morning service today, wherefore I am writing
between 12 & 1 o’clock. — Mr. Benn in the afternoon —
& likewise more rain again, by the look & the sound of
things. You left us in doubt of Mrs. Benn’s situation,
but she has bespoke her Nurse. — Mrs. F. A. seldom
either looks or appears quite well. — Little Embryo is
troublesome I suppose. — They dined with us yester-
day, & had fine weather both for coming & going
home, which has hardly ever happened to them
before. — She is still unprovided with a Housemaid. —
Our day at Alton was very pleasant — Venison quite
right — Children well-behaved — & Mr. & Mrs. Digweed
taking kindly to our Charades, & other Games. —
I must also observe, for his Mother’s satisfaction, that
Edward at my suggestion, devoted himself very
properly to the entertainment of Miss S. Gibson. —
Nothing was wanting except Mr. Sweney ; but he
alas ! had been ordered away to London the day
before. — We had a beautiful walk home by Moon-
light. — Thank you, my Back has given me scarcely
any pain for many days. — I have an idea that agita-
tion does it as much harm as fatigue, & that I was ill
at the time of your going, from the very circumstance
of your going. — I am nursing myself up now into as
beautiful a state as I can, because I hear that Dr.
( 464 )
Sunday 8 September 1816 [188
White means to call on me before he leaves the
Country. — Even 0 . — Frank & Mary & the Child” visited
us this morn 8 . — Mr. & Mrs. Gibson are to come on the
23 d — & there is too much reason to fear they will stay
above a week. — Little George could tell me where you
were gone to, as well as what you were to bring him,
when I asked him the other day. — Sir Tho: Miller is
dead. I treat you with a dead Baronet in almost
every Letter. — So, you have C. Craven among you,
as well as the Duke of Orleans & Mr. Pococke. But
it mortifies me that you have not added one to the
stock of common acquaintance. Do pray meet with
somebody belonging to yourself.— I am quite weary
of your knowing nobody. —
Mrs. Digweed parts with both Hannah and old
Cook, the former will not give up her Lover, who is
a man of bad Character, the Latter is guilty only of
being unequal to anything. — Miss Terry was to have
spent this week with her Sister, but as usual it is put
off. My amiable friend knows the value of her com-
pany. — I have not seen Anna since the day you left us,
her Father & Brother visited her most days. — Edward
& Ben called here on Thursday. Edward was in his
way to Selborne. We found him very agreable. He
is come back from France, thinking of the French as
one could wish, disappointed in everything. He did
not go beyond Paris. — I have a letter from Mrs.
Perigord, she & her Mother are in London again ; — she
speaks of France as a scene of general Poverty &
Misery, — no Money, no Trade — nothing to be got but
by the Innkeepers — & as to her own present prospects,
she is not much less melancholy than before.— I have
also a letter from Miss Sharp, quite one of her Letters ;
( 465 ) h h
183] From Chawton to Cheltenham
— she has been again obliged to exert herself — more
than ever — in a more distressing, more harrassed
state — & has met with another excellent old Physician
& his wife, with every virtue under Heaven, who takes
to her & cures her from pure Love & Benevolence.
Dr. & Mrs. Storer are their Mrs. & Miss Palmer— for
they are at Bridlington. I am happy to say however
that the sum of the account is better than usual. Sir
William is returned ; from Bridlington they go to
Chevet, & she is to have a Young Governess under
her. — I enjoyed Edward’s company very much, as I
said before, & yet I was not sorry when friday came.
It had been a busy week, & I wanted a few days quiet,
& exemption from the Thought & contrivances which
any sort of company gives. — I often wonder how you
can find time for what you do, in addition to the care
of the House ; — and how good Mrs. West c 4 have
written such Books & collected so many hard words,
with all her family cares, is still more a matter of
astonishment ! Composition seems to me Impossible,
with a head full of Joints of Mutton & doses of
rhubarb. — Monday. Here is a sad morn®. — I fear you
may not have been able to get to the Pump. The two
last days were very pleasant. — I enjoyed them the
more for your sake. — But today, it is really bad
enough to make you all cross. — I hope Mary will
change her Lodgings at the fortnight’s end ; I am sure,
if you looked about well, you would find others in
some odd corner, to suit you better. Mrs. Potter
charges for the name of the High S*. — Success to the
Pianoforte I I trust it will drive you away. — We hear
now that there is to be no Honey this year. Bad news
for us. — We must husband our present stock of Mead ;
( 466 )
Sunday 8 September 1816 [188
— & I am sorry to perceive that our 20 Gal: is very
nearly out. — I cannot comprehend how the 14 Gal:
c d last so long. —
We do not much like Mr. Cooper’s new Sermons ; —
they are fuller of Regeneration & Conversion than
ever — with the addition of his zeal in the cause of the
Bible Society. — Martha’s love to Mary & Caroline, &
she is extremely glad to find they like the Pelisse. —
The Debarys are indeed odious ! — We are to see my
Brother tomorrow, but for only one night. — I had no
idea that he would care for the Races, without Edward.
— Remember me to all.
Yours very affec: ly
J. Austen
184. To J. Edward Austen. Monday 16 Dec. <1816)
Address : James Edward Austen Esq re | Steventon
Postmark : none.
L. A. Austen-Leigh. 2 leaves 4°.
Biographical Notice in Northanger Abbey 1818 (extract) ; Memoir 1
212, Memoir 2 158 * Life 877.
Chawton, Monday Dec: 16.
My dear Edward
One reason for my writing to you now, is that I may
have the pleasure of directing to you Esq' 9 . — I give
you Joy of having left Winchester. — Now you may
own, how miserable you were there ; now, it will
gradually all come out — your Crimes & your Miseries
— how often you went up by the Mail to London &
threw away Fifty Guineas at a Tavern, & how often
you were on the point of hanging yourself — restrained
only, as some illnatured aspersion upon poor old
( 467 )
184]
From Chawton to J. Edward Austen
Winton has it, by the want of a Tree within some miles
of the City.— Charles Knight & his companions passed
through Chawton about 9 this morning ; later than
it used to be. Uncle Henry and I had a glimpse
of his handsome face, looking all health & good-
humour. —
I wonder when you will come & see us. I know
what I rather speculate upon, but I shall say nothing.
We think Uncle Henry in excellent Looks. Look
at him this moment & think so too, if you have not
done it before ; & we have the great comfort of seeing
decided improvement in Uncle Charles, both as to
Health, Spirits & Appearance.— And they are each
of them so agreable in their different way, & har-
monize so well, that their visit is thorough enjoy-
ment —Uncle Henry writes very superior Sermons.—
You and I must try to get hold of one or two, & put
them into our Novels ; — it would be a fine help to
a volume ; & we could make our Heroine read it
aloud of a Sunday Evening, just as well as Isabella
Wardour in the Antiquary, is made to read the
History of the Hartz Demon in the ruins of St. Ruth—
though I beleive, upon recollection, Lovell is the
Reader.— By the bye, my dear Edward, I am quite
concerned for the loss your Mother mentions in her
Letter ; two Chapters & a half to be missing is mon-
strous ! It is wefi that I have not been at Steyenton
lately, & therefore cannot be suspected of punoimng
them ;— two strong twigs & a half towards a Nes o
mv own, would have been something. I 011 °
however that any theft of that sort '™ ulJ be
very useful to me. What should I domth your
strong, manly, spirited Sketches, full of Vane y a
( 468 )
Monday 16 December 1816 [184
Glow ? — How could I possibly join them on to the
little bit (two Inches wide) of Ivory on which I work
with so fine a Brush, as produces little effect after
much labour ?
You will hear from uncle Henry how well Anna is.
She seems perfectly recovered. — Ben was here on
Saturday, to ask Uncle Charles & me to dine with
them, as tomorrow, but I was forced to decline it, the
walk is beyond my strength (though I am otherwise
very well) & this is not a Season for Donkey Carriages ;
& as we do not like to spare Uncle Charles, he has
declined it too. —
Tuesday. — Ah, ha ! — M r Edward, I doubt your
seeing Uncle Henry at Steventon today. The weather
will prevent your expecting him I think.— Tell your
Father, with Aunt Cass:’s Love & mine, that the
Pickled Cucumbers are extremely good, & tell him
also — 4 tell him what you will ’ ; No, do’nt tell him
what you will, but tell- him that Grandmama begs
him to make Joseph Hall pay his Rent if he can.
You must not be tired of reading the word Uncle,
for I have not done with it. Uncle Charles thanks
your Mother for her Letter ; it was a great pleasure
to him to know the parcel was received & gave so
much satisfaction ; & he begs her to be so good as
to give Three Shillings for him to Da(me) Staples,
which shall be allowed for in the payment of her debt
here.—
I am happy to tell you that Mr. Papillon will soon
make his offer, probably next Monday, as he returns
on Saturday. — His intention can be no longer doubtful
in the smallest degree, as he has secured the refusal
of the House which M rs Baverstock at present occupies
( 469 )
184] From Chawton to J. Edward Austen
in Chawton & is to vacate soon, which is of course
intended for M rs Eliz th Papillon. —
Adeiu Amiable I— I hope Caroline behaves well to
y° u * Y ours affec ly
J. Austen
185. To Anna Lefroy. Thursday < late in 1816)
No address or postmark.
Miss Isabel Lefroy. Copy by Anna Lefroy (on paper with watermark
dated 1854), who adds : ‘ This note was written the winter of
1816 & the original is in the possession of W. Chambers Lefroy
the grandson of the Receiver.’
Unpublished.
My dear Anna
Your Grandmama is very much obliged to you for
the Turkey, but cannot help grieving that you should
not keep it for yourselves. Such Highmindedness is
almost more than she can bear. — She will be very
glad of better weather that she may see you again &
so we shall all. Yours affec ately
Thursday. J* Austen
186. To Cassandra, daughter of Charles Austen.
< Wednesday > 8 Jan. 1817
Address : Capt. C. J. Austen R.N. | 22 Keppel Street | Russel
Square | London
Postmarks : Alton and 9 JA 1817
Pierpont Morgan Library (1925). Formerly in the collection
described in Times Literary Supplement 14 Jan. 1926. One leaf 4 .
Brabourne ii. 327.
Ym raed Yssac
I hsiw uoy a yppah wen raey. Ruoy xis smsuoc
emac ereh yadretsey, dna dah hcae a eceip fo ekac.
(470)
From Chawton to Cassy Austen [180
Siht si elttil Yssac’s yadhtrib, dna ehs si eerht sraey
dlo. Knarf sah nugeb gninrael Nital. Ew deef eht
Nibor yreve gninrom. — Yllas netfo seriuqne retfa uoy.
Yllas Mahneb sah tog a wen neerg nwog. Teirrah
Thgink semoc yreve yad ot daer ot Tnua Ardnassac. —
Doog eyb ym raed Yssac. — Tnua Ardnassac sdnes reh
tseb evol, dna os ew od 11a.
Ruoy Etanoitceffa Tnua
Notwahc, Naj. 8. Enai Netsua
187. To Caroline Austen. Thursday 23 Jan. 1817
Address : Miss Caroline Austen
Postmark : none.
L. A, Austen-Leigh. Two leaves 4°, a small piece cut away from the
second leaf.
Memoir 2 160 (short extract) ; Life 366. A large part unpublished,
Chawton Thursday Jan: 23. 1817 —
My dear Caroline
I am always very much obliged to you for writing
to me, & have now I beleive two or three Notes to
thank you for ; but whatever may be their Number,
I mean to have this Letter accepted as a handsome
return for all, for you see I have taken a complete,
whole sheet of Paper, which is to entitle me to con-
sider it as a very long Letter whether I write much or
little. — We were quite happy to see Edward, it was
an unexpected pleasure, & he makes himself as agre-
able as ever, sitting in such a quiet comfortable way
making his delightful little Sketches. — He is generally
thought grown since he was here last, & rather
Thinner, but in very good Looks. — We have used
Anna as ill as we could, by not letting him leave us
before tomorrow morning, but it is a Vile World, we
( 471 )
137] From Chawton to Caroline Austen
are all for Self & I expected no better from any of us. —
But though Better is not to be expected, Butter may,
at least from M rs Clement’s Cow, for she has sold her
Calf. — Edward will tell you of the Grand Evening
Party he has come in for. We were proud to have
a young Man to accompany us, & he acquitted himself
to admiration in every particular except selling his
Deals at Vingt-un. — He read his two Chapters to us
the first Evening ; — both good — but especially the
last in our opinion. We think it has more of the
Spirit & Entertainment of the early part of his
Work, the first 8 or 4 Chapters, than some of the
subsequent. — M r Reeves is charming — & M r Moun-
tain — & M r Fairfax — & all their day’s sport. — And
the introduction of Emma Gordon is very amusing. —
I certainly do altogether like this set of People better
than those at Culver Court.
Your Anne is dreadful. But nothing offends me so
much as the absurdity of not being able to pronounce
the word Shift. I could forgive her any follies in
English, rather than the Mock Modesty of that french
word. She should not only place her Quilt in the
Centre, but give it’s Latitude & Longitude, & measure
its Dimensions by a Lunar Observation if she chose —
Cook & Sally seem very properly pleased by your
remembrance, & desire their Duty & Thanks. Sally
has got a new red Cloak, which adds much to her
happiness, in other respects she is unaltered, as civil
& well meaning & talkative as ever. — Only think of
your lost Dormouse being brought back to you ! I
was quite astonished. — No time is fixed for Cassy s
return, but March has always been her month hitherto
for coming down. Aunt Cass: — had a letter from her
( 472 )
Thursday 28 January 1817 [187
very lately, extremely well written in a large hand,
but as you may suppose containing little beyond her
hope of every body’s being well at Chawton, &
Harriet & Fanny’s love. Uncle Charles, I am sorry
to say, has been suffering from Rheumatism, & now
he has got a great eruption in his face & neck — which
is to do him good however — but he has a sad turn for
being unwell . — I feel myself getting stronger than
I was half a year ago, & can so perfectly well walk to
Alton, or back again, without the slightest fatigue
that I hope to be able to do both when Summer comes.
— I spent two or three days with your Uncle & Aunt
lately, & though the Children are sometimes very
noisy & not under such Order as they ought & easily
might, I cannot help liking them & even loving them,
which I hope may be not wholly inexcusable in their
& <your affectionate Aunt,
J. Austen)
The Piano Fort6 often talks of you ; — in various
keys, tunes, & expressions I allow — but be it Lesson
or Country Dance, Sonata or Waltz, you are really it’s
constant Theme. I wish you c d come and see us, as
easily as Edward can.
138. To Caroline Austen. Wednesday <1817)
Address : Miss Caroline Austen.
Postmark : none.
L. A. Austen-Leigh. 2 leaves 8°.
Life 367. Part unpublished.
You send me great News indeed my dear Caroline,
about M r Digweed M r Trimmer, & a Grand Piano
Forte. I wish it had been a small one, as then vou
( 473 )
138] From Chawton to Caroline Austen
might have pretended that M r D.’s rooms were too
damp to be fit for it, & offered to take charge of it
at the Parsonage.— I am sorry to hear of Caroline
Wiggetts being so ill. M rs Chute I suppose would
almost feel like a Mother in losing her. — We have but
a poor account of your Uncle Charles 2 d Girl ; there
is an idea now of her having Water in her head. The
others are well. — William was mistaken when he told
your Mama we did not mean to mourn for M rfl Motley
Austen. Living here we thought it necessary to array
ourselves in our old Black Gowns, because there is
a lin e of Connection with the family through the
Prowtings & Harrisons of Southampton .—I look for-
ward to the 4 new Chapters with pleasure. — But how
can you like Frederick better than Edgar — You have
some eccentric Tastes however I know, as to Heroes
& Heroines. — Good bye.
Y r * affec ly
Wed: Night. J. Austen
139. To Alethea Bigg. < Friday > 24 Jan. 1817
Address : Miss Bigg— The Rev nd Herbert Hill’s, Streatham, London.
Original not traced. Copy by R. A. Austen-Leigh of a copy made by
Mary Augusta Austen-Leigh.
Memoir 2 158 (extracts) ; Life 879 (extracts). Part unpublished.
Chawton Jan 7 24 — 1817
My dear Alethea , ,
I think it time there should be a little writing
between us, though I believe the epistolary debt is on
your side, and I hope this will find all the Streatham
party well, neither carried away by the flood, nor
rheumatic through the damps. Such mild weather is,
( 474 )
Friday 24 January 1817 [189
you know, delightful to us , and though we have a
great many ponds, and a fine running stream through
the meadows on the other side of the road, it is nothing
but what beautifies us and does to talk of. We are
all in good health & I have certainly gained strength
through the winter and am not far from being well ;
and I think I understand my own case now so much
better than I did, as to be able by care to keep off
any serious return of illness. I am more & more
convinced that bile is at the bottom of all I have
suffered, which makes it easy to know how to treat
myself. You will be glad to hear thus much of me,
I am sure as I shall in return be very glad to hear that
your health has been good lately. We have just had
a few days’ visit from Edward, who brought us a good
account of his father, and the very circumstance of
his coming at all, of his father’s being able to spare
him, is itself a good account. He is gone to spend
this day at Wyards & goes home to-morrow. He
grows still, and still improves in appearance, at least
in the estimation of his aunts, who love him better
and better, as they see the sweet temper and warm
affections of the boy confirmed in the young man :
I tried hard to persuade him that he must have some
message for William, but in vain. Anna has not been
so well or so strong or looking so much like herself
since her marriage as she is now ; she is quite equal
to walking to Chawton, & comes over to us when she
can, but the rain & dirt divide us a good deal. Her
grandmama she can only see at Chawton as this is not
a time of year for donkey-carriages, and our donkeys
are necessarily having so long a run of luxurious idle-
ness that I suppose we shall find they have forgotten
( 475 )
139] From Chawton to Alethea Bigg
much of their education when we use them again. We
do not use two at once however ; don’t imagine such
excesses. Anna’s eldest child just now runs alone,
which is a great convenience with a second in arms,
& they are both healthy nice children — I wish their
Father were ordained & all the family settled in a
comfortable Parsonage house. The Curacy only is
wanting I fancy to complete the business. Our own
new clergyman is expected here very soon, perhaps
in time to assist Mr. Papillon on Sunday. I shall
be very glad when the first hearing is over. It will be
a nervous hour for our pew, though we hear that he
acquits himself with as much ease and coliectedness,
as if he had been used to it all his life. We have no
chance we know of seeing you between Streatham and
Winchester : you go the other road and are engaged
to two or three houses ; if there should be any change,
however, you know how welcome you would be.
Edward mentioned one circumstance concerning you
my dear Alethea, which I must confess has given me
considerable astonishment & some alarm — your hav-
ing left your best gown at Steventon. Surely if you
do not want it at Streatham, you will be spending
a few days with M r9 G. Frere, & must want it there.
I would lay any wager that you have been sorry you
left it. We have been reading the 4 Poet’s Pilgrimage
to Waterloo,’ and generally with much approbation.
Nothing will please all the world, you know ; but
parts of it suit me better than much that he has
written before. The opening — the pvocivb I believe he
calls it — is very beautiful. Poor man ! one cannot
but grieve for the loss of the son so fondly described.
Has he at all recovered it ? What do Mr. and Mrs.
( 476 )
Friday 24 January 1817 [189
Hill know about his present state ? I hear from more
than one quarter that Miss Williams is really better,
& I am very glad, especially as Charlotte’s being
better also must I think be the consequence of it.
I hope your letters from abroad are satisfactory.
They would not be satisfactory to me, I confess,
unless they breathed a strong spirit of regret for not
being in England. Kind love & good wishes for a
happy New Year to you all, from all our four here.
Give our love to the little Boys, if they can be per-
suaded to remember us. We have not at all forgot
Herbert’s & Errol’s fine countenances. Georgiana is
very pretty I daresay. How does Edward like school ?
— I suppose his holidays are now over yet. 1
Yours affec ly
J. Austen
The real object of this letter is to ask you for a
receipt, but I thought it genteel not to let it appear
early. We remember some excellent orange wine at
Manydown, made from Seville oranges, entirely or
chiefly & should be very much obliged to you for
the receipt, if you can command it within a few
weeks.
1 Sic in the copy.
( 477 )
140] From Chawton to Fanny Knight
140. To Fanny Knight. Thursday 20 Feb. <1817)
Address : Miss Knight | Godmersham Park [ Faversham | Kent
Postmarks : alton and 22 (month and year illegible)
Lord Brabourne. 2 leaves 4°. Endorsed ‘ 8 Feb. 20 1816 ’ ; but see
Life 347 note. The date 1816 is moreover inconsistent with the
days of the week and month given for this letter and the two which
follow. This letter is dated 20 Feb., and was begun on Thursday
(for the later part dated Friday refers to the earlier part as written
‘ yesterday ’). 20 Feb. was a Thursday in 1817.
Facsimile in Five Letters from Jane Austen to Fanny Knight, Oxford
1924.
Brabourne ii. 290 ; Life 348, 883 (extracts). Several sentences or
parts of sentences unpublished ; and Lord Brabourne disguised
some names.
Chawton Feb: 20
My dearest Fanny,
You are inimitable, irresistable. You are the delight
of my Life. Such Letters, such entertaining Letters
as you have lately sent ! — Such a description of your
queer little heart ! — Such a lovely display of what
Imagination does. — You are worth your weight in
Gold, or even in the new Silver Coinage. — I cannot
express to you what I have felt in reading your history
of yourself, how full of Pity & Concern & Admiration
& Amusement I have been. You are the Paragon of
all that is Silly & Sensible, common-place & eccentric,
Sad & Lively, Provoking & Interesting. — Who can
keep pace with the fluctuations of your Fancy, the
Capprizios of your Taste, the Contradictions of your
Feelings ? — You are so odd ! — & all the time, so per-
fectly natural — so peculiar in yourself, & yet so like
everybody else !— It is very, very gratifying to me to
know you so intimately. You can hardly think what
a pleasure it is to me, to have such thorough pictures
of your Heart.— Oh I what a loss it will be when
( 478 )
Thursday 20 February 1817 [140
you are married. You are too agreable in your
single state, too agreable as a Neice. I shall hate you
when your delicious play of Mind is all settled down
into conjugal & maternal affections.
Mr. J. W. frightens me. — He will have you. — I see
you at the Altar. — I have some faith in Mrs. C. Cage’s
observation, & still more in Lizzy’s ; & besides, I know
it must be so. He must be wishing to attach you. It
would be too stupid & too shameful in him, to be
otherwise ; & all the Family are seeking your acquain-
tance. — Do not imagine that I have any real objection,
I have rather taken a fancy to him than not, & I like
Chilham Castle for you ; — I only do not like you
sh d marry anybody. And yet I do wish you to marry
very much, because I know you will never be happy
till you are ; but the loss of a Fanny Knight will be
never made up to me ; My ‘ affec: Neice F. C. Wild-
man will be but a poor Substitute. I do not like your
being nervous & so apt to cry : — it is a sign you are
not quite well, but I hope Mr. Scud — as you always
write his name, (your Mr. Scuds: amuse me very much)
will do you good. — What a comfort that Cassandra
should be so recovered ! — It is more than we had
expected. — I can easily beleive she was very patient
& very good. I always loved Cassandra, for her fine
dark eyes & sweet temper. — I am almost entirely cured
of my rheumatism ; just a little pain in my knee now
and then, to make me remember what it was, & keep
on flannel. — Aunt Cassandra nursed me so beauti-
fully ! — I enjoy your visit to Goodnestone, it must be
a great pleasure to you, You have not seen Fanny
Cage in any comfort so long. I hope she represents
& remonstrates & reasons with you, properly. Why
( 479 )
140] From Chawton to Fanny Knight
should you be living in dread of his marrying some-
body else ?— (Yet, how natural !) — You did not chuse
to have him yourself ; why not allow him to take
comfort where he can ? — In your conscience you know
that he could not bear a comparison with a more
animated Character. — You cannot forget how you felt
under the idea of it’s having been possible that he
might have dined in Hans Place. — My dearest Fanny,
I cannot bear you should be unhappy about him.
Think of his Principles, think of his Father’s objection,
of want of Money, of a coarse Mother, of Brothers &
Sisters like Horses, of sheets sewn across &c. — But
I am doing no good — no, all that I urge against him
will rather make you take his part more, sweet perverse
Fanny. — And now I will tell you that we like your
Henry to the utmost, to the very top of the Glass,
quite brimful. — He is a very pleasing young Man.
I do not see how he could be mended. He does really
bid fair to be everything his Father and Sister could
wish ; and William I love very much indeed, & so we
do all, he is quite our own William. In short we are
very comfortable together — that is, we can answer for
ourselves. — Mrs. Deedes is as welcome as May, to all
our Benevolence to her Son ; we only lamented that
we c d not do more, & that the £50 note we slipt into
his hand at parting was necessarily the Limit of our
Offering. — Good Mrs. Deedes ! — I hope she will get the
better of this Marianne, & then I w d recommend to
her & Mr. D. the simple regimen of separate rooms.—
Scandal & Gossip yes I dare say you are well
stocked ; but I am very fond of Mrs. C. Cage, for
reasons good. Thank you for mentioning her praise
of Emma &c. — I have contributed the marking to
( 480 )
Thursday 20 February 1817 [140
Uncle H.’s shirts, & now they are a complete memorial
of the tender regard of many. —
Friday. — I had no idea when I began this yesterday,
of sending it before your B r went back, but I have
written away my foolish thoughts at such a rate that
I will not keep them many hours longer to stare me in
the face.— Much obliged for the Quadrilles , which I am
grown to think pretty enough, though of course they
are very inferior to the Cotillions of my own day. —
Ben & Anna walked here last Sunday to hear Uncle
Henry, & she looked so pretty, it was quite a pleasure
to see her, so young & so blooming & so innocent, as
if she had never had a wicked Thought in her Life
which yet one has some reason to suppose she must
have had, if we believe the Doctrine of original Sin, or
if we remember the events of her girlish days. —
I hope Lizzy will have her Play. Very kindly
arranged for her. Henry is generally thought very
good-looking, but not so handsome as Edward. —
^ think J prefei his face. Win. is in excellent Looks,
has a fine appetite & seems perfectly well. You will
have a great Break-up at G m in the Spring, You must
feel their all going. It is very right however. One
sees many good causes for it.— Poor Miss C.— I shall
pity her, when she begins to understand herself. — Your
objection to the Quadrilles delighted me exceedingly.
Pretty well, for a Lady irrecoverably attached to
one Person !— Sweet Fanny, beleive no such thing of
yourself. — Spread no such malicious slander upon your
Understanding, within the Precincts of your Imagina-
tion. Do not speak ill of your Sense, merely for the
Gratification of your Fancy. — Yours is Sense, which
deserves more honourable Treatment.— You are not
( 481 ) i i
140] From Chawton to Fanny Knight
in love with him. You never have been really in love
with him. — Y rg very affec ly
J. Austen
Uncle H. & Miss Lloyd dine at Mr. Digweed’s
today, which leaves us the power of asking Uncle &
Aunt F. — to come & meet their Nephews here.
141. To Fanny Knight. Thursday 13 March <1817)
Address (fragment) : <Miss Knig>ht | <Godmers)ham Park
Postmark : none.
Lord Brabourne, This letter consists of two distinct pieces, which
are preserved together : (1) 2 leaves 4°, ending an occupation <&
a comfort to him ; endorsed 4 N° 4 March 13 ’ ; (2) a half leaf (the
rest torn off) containing the remainder of the letter and the frag-
ment of the address ; endorsed 4 2 \ The first paragraph of the
letter shows that it did not go through the post, and that explains
Miss Austen’s allowing herself a second sheet. Facsimile in Five
Letters from Jane Austen to Fanny Knight , Oxford 1924.
Brabourne ii. 295 ; Life 351, 383 (extracts). Lord Brabourne omitted
large parts of the first sheet and (doubtless by inadvertence, or
because it was mislaid) the whole of the second.
Chawton, Thursday March 13.
As to making any adequate return for such a Letter
as yours my dearest Fanny, it is absolutely impossible ;
if I were to labour at it all the rest of my Life & live
to the age of Methuselah, I could never accomplish
anything so long & so perfect ; but I cannot let
William go without a few Lines of acknowledgement
& reply. I have pretty well done with Mr. Wildman.
By your description he can not be in love with you,
however he may try at it, & I could not wish the match
unless there were a great deal of Love on his side.
I do not know what to do about Jemima Branfill.
What does her dancing away with so much spirit,
( 482 )
Thursday 18 March 1817 [141
mean ? that she does not care for him, or only wishes
to appear not to care for him ? — Who can understand
a young Lady ? — Poor Mrs. C. Milles, that she should
die on a wrong day at last, after being about it so
long ! It was unlucky that the Goodnestone Party
could not meet you, & I hope her friendly, obliging,
social Spirit, which delighted in drawing People
together, was not conscious of the division and disap-
pointment she was occasioning. I am sorry & sur-
prised that you speak of her as having little to leave,
& must feel for Miss Milles, though she is Molly, if
a material loss of Income is to attend her other loss'.
Single Women have a dreadful propensity for being
poor— which is one very strong argument in favour
of Matrimony, but I need not dwell on such arguments
with you, pretty Dear, you do not want inclination.-
YY ell, I shall say, as I have often said before. Do not be
in a hurry ; depend upon it, the right Man will come
at last ; you will in the course of the next two or three
years, meet with somebody more generally unexcep-
tionable than anyone you have yet known, who will
love you as warmly as ever He did, and who will so
completely attach you, that you will feel you never
really loved before.— And then, by not beginning the
business of Mothering quite so early in life, you will be
y< J?i ng ni n Constitution, spirits, figure & countenance,
while M" W“ Hammond is growing old by confine-
ments & nursing. Do none of the Plumtres ever come
to Balls now ?— You have never mentioned them as
being at any ? — And what do you hear of the Ginns
or of Fanny and her Husband ?— M rs F A is to be
confined the middle of April, & is by „ 0 ' ^ means
remarkably Large for her. — Aunt Cassandra walked
( 483 )
141] From Chawton to Fanny Knight
to Wyards yesterday with Mrs. Digweed. Anna has
had a bad cold, looks pale, & we fear something else.
She has just weaned Julia.- — How soon, the difference
of temper in Children appears ! — Jemima has a very
irritable bad Temper (her Mother says so) — and Julia
a very sweet one, always pleased & happy. — I hope
as Anna is so early sensible of it’s defects, that she will
give Jemima’s disposition the early & steady atten-
tion it must require . — I have also heard lately from
your Aunt Harriot, & cannot understand their plans
in parting with Miss S — whom she seems very much
to value, now that Harriot & Eleanor are both of an
age for a Governess to be so useful to ; — especially as
when Caroline was sent to School some years, Miss
Bell was still retained, though the others were then
mere Nursery Children. — They have some good reason
I dare say, though I cannot penetrate it, & till I know
what it is I shall invent a bad one, and amuse myself
with accounting for the difference of measures by
supposing Miss S. to be a superior sort of Woman, who
has never stooped to recommend herself to the Master
of the family by Flattery, as Miss Bell did. — I will
answer your kind questions more than you expect.
Miss Catherine is put upon the Shelve for the present,
and I do not know that she will ever come out ; — but
I have a something ready for Publication, which may
perhaps appear about a twelvemonth hence. It is
short, about the length of Catherine. — This is for
yourself alone. Neither Mr. Salusbury nor Mr. Wild-
man are to know of it.
I am got tolerably well again, quite equal to walking
about & enjoying the Air; and by sitting down &
resting a good while between my Walks, I get exercise
( 484 )
Thursday 18 March 1817 [141
enough. I have a scheme however for accomplishing
more, as the weather grows springlike. I mean to take
to riding the Donkey. It will be more independant
& less troublesome than the use of the carriage, &
I shall be able to go about with A* Cassandra in her
walks to Alton and Wyards. — I hope you will think
Wm. looking well. He was bilious the other day, and
Aunt Cass: supplied him with a Dose at his own
request, which seemed to have good effect. — I was
sure you would have approved it. Wm. & I are the
best of friends. I love him very much. Everything
is so natural about him, his affections, his Manners &
his Drollery. He entertains & interests us extremely.
—Max : Hammond and A. M. Shaw are people whom
I cannot care for, in themselves, but I enter into their
situation & am glad they are so happy. — If I were the
Duchess of Richmond, I should be very miserable
about my son’s choice. What can be expected from
a Paget, born & brought up in the centre of conjugal
Infidelity & Divorces ? — I will not be interested
about Lady Caroline. I abhor all the race of Pagets.—
Our fears increase for poor little Harriet ; the latest
account is that Sir Ev: Home is confirmed in his
opinion of there being water on the brain. — I hope
Heaven in its mercy will take her soon. Her poor
Father will be quite worn out by his feelings for her.
He cannot spare Cassy at present, she is an occupation
& a comfort to him.
Adieu my dearest Fanny. Nothing could be more
delicious than your Letter ; & the assurance of your
feeling releived by writing it, made the pleasure
perfect. — But how could it possibly be any new idea
to you that you have a great deal of Imagination ? —
( 485 )
141] From Chawton to Fanny Knight
You are all over Imagination. — The most astonishing
part of your Character is, that with so much Imagina-
tion, so much flight of Mind, such unbounded Fancies,
you should have such excellent Judgement in what
you do ! — Religious Principle I fancy must explain it. —
Well, good bye & God bless you.
Y” very affech
J. Austen
141.1 To Caroline Austen. (Friday) 14 March
<1817). See p. 511
142. To Fanny Knight. Sunday 23 March <1817)
Address ; Miss Knight | Godmersham Park | Canterbury
Postmark : 25 m (the rest illegible)
Lord Brabourne. 2 leaves 4°. Endorsed 4 5 March 23 1816 ’ ; but in
1816 March 23 was not a Sunday. Facsimile in Five Letters froin
Jane Austen to Fanny Knight , Oxford 1924.
Brabourne ii. 299 $ Life 352, 383 (extracts). A few lines unpublished.
Chawton, Sunday March 23.
I am very much obliged to you my dearest Fanny
for sending me Mr. Wildman’s conversation, I had
great amusement in reading it, & I hope I am not
affronted & do not think the worse of him for having
a Brain so very different from mine, but my strongest
sensation of all is astonishment at your being able to
press him on the subject so perseveringly — and I agree
with your Papa, that it was not fair. When he knows
the truth he will be uncomfortable. — You are the
oddest Creature ! — Nervous enough in some respects,
but in others perfectly without nerves ! — Quite unre-
pulsible, hardened & impudent. Do not oblige him to
read any more. — Have mercy on him, tell him the
truth & make him an apology. He & I should not in
the least agree of course, in our ideas of Novels and
Heroines ; — pictures of perfection as you know make
( 486 )
Sunday 28 March 1817 [142
me sick & wicked — but there is some very good sense
in what he says, & I particularly respect him for
wishing to think well of all young Ladies ; it shews
an amiable & a delicate Mind. — And he deserves
better treatment than to be obliged to read any more
of my Works. — Do not be surprised at finding Uncle
Henry acquainted with my having another ready for
publication. I could not say No when he asked me,
but he knows nothing more of it. — You will not like
it, so you need not be impatient. You may perhaps
like the Heroine, as she is almost too good for me. —
Many thanks for your kind care for my health ;
I certainly have not been well for many weeks, and
about a week ago I was very poorly, I have had a good
deal of fever at times & indifferent nights, but am
considerably better now, & recovering my Looks
a little, which have been bad enough, black & white
& every wrong colour. I must not depend upon being
ever very blooming again. Sickness is a dangerous
Indulgence at my time of Life. Thank you for every-
thing you tell me ; — I do not feel worthy of it by
anything I can say in return, but I assure you my
pleasure in your Letters is quite as great as ever, & I
am interested & amused just as you could wish me.
If there is a Miss Marsden, I perceive whom she will
marry.
Even 9 . — I was languid & dull & very bad company
when I wrote the above ; I am better now — to my
own feelings at least — & wish I may be more agreable.
We are going to have Rain, & after that, very pleasant
genial weather, which will exactly do for me, as my
Saddle will then be completed— and air & exercise is
what I want. Indeed I shall be very glad when the
( 487 )
142] From Chawton to Fanny Knight
event at Scarlets is over, the expectation of it keeps
us in a worry, your Grandmama especially ; she sits
brooding over Evils which cannot be remedied &
Conduct impossible to be understood. — Now, the
reports from Keppel St. are rather better ; little
Harriet’s headaches are abated, & Sir Ev d : is satisfied
with the effect of the Mercury, & does not despair of
a Cure. The Complaint I find is not considered In-
curable nowadays, provided the Patient be young
enough not to have the Head hardened. The Water
in that case may be drawn off by Mercury. But
though this is a new idea to us, perhaps it may have
been long familiar to you, through your friend Mr.
Scud: — I hope his high renown is maintained by
driving away William’s cough. Tell William that
Triggs is as beautiful & condescending as ever, & was
so good as to dine with us today, & tell him that
I often play at Nines & think of him. — Anna has not
a chance of escape ; her husband called here the other
day, & said she was pretty well but not equal to so long
a walk ; she must come in her Donkey Carriage. — Poor
Animal, she will be worn out before she is thirty. —
I am very sorry for her. — M ts Clement too is in that
way again. I am quite tired of so many Children. —
M rB Benn has a 13 th . — The Papillons came back on
friday night, but I have not seen them yet, as I do not
venture to Church. I cannot hear however, but that
they are the same Mr. P. & his sister they used to be.
She has engaged a new Maidservant in Mrs. Calker’s
room, whom she means to make also Housekeeper
under herself. — Old Philmore was buried yesterday,
& I, by way of saying something to Triggs, observed
that it had been a very handsome Funeral, but his
( 488 )
Sunday 28 March 1817 [142
manner of reply made me suppose that it was not
generally esteemed so. I can only be sure of one part
being very handsome, Triggs himself, walking behind
in his Green Coat. — Mrs. Philmore attended as chief
Mourner, in Bombasin, made very short, and flounced
with Crape.
Tuesday. — I have had various plans as to this
Letter, but at last I have determined that Un: Henry
shall forward it from London. I want to see how
Canterbury looks in the direction. — When once Unc. H.
has left us I shall wish him with you. London is
become a hateful place to him, & he is always de-
pressed by the idea of it.— I hope he will be in time for
your sick. I am sure he must do that part of his Duty
as excellently as all the rest. He returned yesterday
from Steventon, & was with us by breakfast, bringing
Edward with him, only that Edw d staid to breakfast at
Wyards. We had a pleasant family-day, for the Altons
dined with us ; — the last visit of the kind probably,
which she will be able to pay us for many a month ;
Very well, to be able to do it so long, for she expects
much about this day three weeks, & is generally very
exact. I hope your own Henry is in France & that
you have heard from him. The Passage once over, he
will feel all Happiness. — I took my l 8t ride yesterday
& liked it very much. I went up Mounters Lane, &
round by where the new Cottages are to be, & found
the exercise & everything very pleasant, and I had the
advantage of agreable companions, as A‘ Cass: and
Edward walked by my side. — A 1 Cass, is such an
excellent Nurse, so assiduous & unwearied ! — But you
know all that already. —
Very affec ly Yours
( 489 )
J. Austen
143]
From Chawton to Caroline Austen
143. To Caroline Austen. Wednesday 26 March
<1817)
Address : Miss Caroline Austen
Postmark : none*
L. A. Austen-Leigh. 2 leaves 8°, a piece cut away from the second
leaf*
Life 867. A few lines unpublished.
Chawton Wed y March 26
My dear Caroline
Pray make no apologies for writing to me often,
I am always very happy to hear from you, & am
sorry to think that opportunities for such a nice little
economical correspondence, are likely to fail now.
But I hope we shall have Uncle Henry back again by
the 1 st Sunday in May. — I think you very much
improved in your writing, & in the way to write a very
pretty hand. I wish you could practise your fingering
oftener. — Would not it be a good plan for you to go
& live entirely at Mr. Wm. Digweed’s ? — He could
not desire any other remuneration than the pleasure
of hearing you practise. I like Frederick & Caroline
better than I did, but must still prefer Edgar & Julia.
Julia is a warm-hearted, ingenuous, natural Girl,
which I like her for ; — but I know the word Natural
is no recommendation to you. — Our last Letter from
Keppel St. was rather more chearful. — Harriet’s head-
aches were a little releived, & Sir Ed: Hume does not
despair of a cure. — He persists in thinking it Water
on the Brain, but none of the others are convinced.
I am happy to say that your Uncle Charles speaks of
himself as quite well. How very well Edward is
looking I You can have nobody in your Neighbour-
( 490 )
Wednesday 26 March 1817 [148
hood to vie with him at all, except Mr. Portal. — I have
taken one ride on the Donkey & like it very much —
& you must try to get me quiet, mild days, that I may
be able to go out pretty constantly. — A great deal of
Wind does not suit me, as I have still a tendency to
Rheumatism. <In> short I am a poor Honey at
present. I will be better when you can come &
see us. —
144. To Charles Austen. Sunday 6 April 1817
Address : Capt“ C. J. Austen RN | 22 Keppel St. | Russell Sq r ®
Postmarks : alton and 7 ap 1817
British Museum (1925). Formerly in the collection described in
Times Literary Supplement 14 Jan. 1926. 2 leaves 4°. Endorsed
‘My last letter from dearest Jane C. J. A ’.
Memoir 1 207, Memoir 2 150 (a short extract) ; Life 385 (extracts).
Part unpublished.
Chawton Sunday April 6.
My dearest Charles
Many thanks for your affectionate Letter. I was
in your debt before, but I have really been too unwell
the last fortnight to write anything that was not
absolutely necessary. I have been suffering from a
Bilious attack, attended with a good deal of fever.
A few days ago my complaint appeared removed, but
I am ashamed to say that the shock of my Uncle’s
Will brought on a relapse, & I was so ill on friday
& thought myself so likely to be worse that I could
not but press for Cassandra’s returning with Frank
after the Funeral last night, which she of course did,
& either her return, or my having seen M r Curtis, or
my Disorder’s chusing to go away, have made me
better this morning. I live upstairs however for the
present & am coddled. I am the only one of the
( 491 )
144] From Chawton to Charles Austen
Legatees who has been so silly, but a weak Body
must excuse weak Nerves. My Mother has born the
forgetfulness of her extremely well ; — her expectations
for herself were never beyond the extreme of modera-
tion, & she thinks with you that my Uncle always
looked forward to surviving her. — She desires her best
Love & many thanks for your kind feelings ; and
heartily wishes that her younger Child® had more,
& all her Child® something immediately. My Aunt
felt the value of Cassandras company so fully, & was
so very kind to her, & is poor Woman ! so miserable
at present (for her affliction has very much increased
since the first) that we feel more regard for her than
we ever did before. It is impossible to be surprised
at Miss Palmer’s being ill, but we are truly sorry, &
hope it may not continue. We congratulate you on
M" P.’s recovery. — As for your poor little Harriet,
I dare not be sanguine for her. Nothing can be kinder
than M rs Cooke’s enquiries after you & her, in all her
Letters, & there was no standing her affectionate way
of speaking of your Countenance, after her seeing you.
— God bless you all. Conclude me to be going on well,
if you hear nothing to the contrary. — Yours Ever
truely
j *
Tell dear Harriet that whenever she wants me in
her service again, she must send a Hackney Chariot
all the way for me, for I am not strong enough to
travel any other way, & I hope Cassy will take care
that it is a green one.
I have forgotten to take a proper-edged sheet of
Paper.
( 492 )
Thursday 22 May 1817 [145
145. To Anne Sharp. < Thursday > 22 May <1817)
Address : Miss Sharp | South Parade | Doncaster
Postmarks : alton and 23 my 1817
Miss A. L. Sillar. 2 leaves 4°.
The Times 1 Feb. 1926.
Chawton May 22 d
Your kind Letter my dearest Anne found me in bed,
for in spite of my hopes & promises when I wrote to
you I have since been very ill indeed. An attack of
my sad complaint seized me within a few days after-
waids the most severe I ever had — & coming upon
me after weeks of indisposition, it reduced me very
low. I have kept my bed since the 18. of April, with
only removals to a Sopha. Nozv , I am getting well
again, & indeed have been gradually tho’ slowly
recovering my strength for the last three weeks.
I can sit up in my bed & employ myself, as I am
proving to you at this present moment, & really am
equal to being out of bed, but that the posture is
thought good for me. — How to do justice to the
kindness of all my family during this illness, is quite
beyond me !— Every dear Brother so affectionate &
so anxious !— and as for my Sister !— Words must
fail me in any attempt to describe what a Nurse she
has been to me. Thank God ! she does not seem the
worse for it yet, & as there was never any sitting-up
necessary, I am willing to hope she has no after-
fatigues to suffer from. I have so many alleviations
& comforts to bless the Almighty for !— My head was
always clear, & I had scarcely any pain ; my cheif
sufferings were from feverish nights, weakness and
Languor. — This Discharge was on me for above a
( 493 )
145] From Chawton to Anne Sharp
week, & as our Alton Apoth y did not pretend to be
able to cope with it, better advice was called in. Our
nearest very good, is at Winchester, where there is a
Hospital & capital Surgeons, & one of them attended
me, & his applications gradually removed the Evil. —
The consequence is, that instead of going to Town to
put myself into the hands of some Physician as I sir 1
otherwise have done, I am going to Winchester instead,
for some weeks to see what M r Lyford can do farther
towards re-establishing me in tolerable health. — On
Sat y next, I am actually going thither — my dearest
Cassandra with me I need hardly say — and as this is
only two days off you will be convinced that I am now
really a very genteel, portable sort of an Invalid. —
The Journey is only 16 miles, we have comfortable
Lodgings engaged for us by our kind friend M r>
Heathcote who resides in W. & are to have the
accomodation of my elder Brother’s Carriage which
will be sent over from Steventon on purpose. Now,
that’s a sort of thing which M rB J. Austen does in the
kindest manner ! — But still she is in the main not
a liberal-minded Woman, & as to this reversionary
Property’s amending that part of her Character,
expect it not my dear Anne ; — too late, too late in the
day ; — & besides, the Property may not be theirs
these ten years. My Aunt is very stout. — M ra F. A.
has had a much shorter confinement than I have — with
a Baby to produce into the bargain. We were put to
bed nearly at the same time, & she has been quite
recovered this great while. — I hope you have not
been visited with more illness my dear Anne, either
in your own person or your Eliza’s. — I must not
attempt the pleasure of addressing her again, till my
( 494 )
Thursday 22 May 1817 [145
hand is stronger, but I prize the invitation to do so. —
Beleive me, I was interested in all you wrote, though
with all the Egotism of an Invalid I write only of
myself. — Your Charity to the poor Woman I trust fails
no more in effect, than I am sure it does in exertion.
What an interest it must be to you all ! & how gladly
sh d I contribute more than my good wishes, were it
possible ! But how you are wori'ied ! Wherever
Distress falls, you are expected to supply Comfort.
L y P writing to you even from Paris for advice ! —
It is the Influence of Strength over Weakness indeed.
— Galigai de Concini for ever & ever. — Adeiu. — Con-
tinue to direct to Chawton, the communication be-
tween the two places will be frequent. — I have not
mentioned my dear Mother ; she suffered much for me
when I was at the worst, but is tolerably well. — Miss
Lloyd too has been all kindness. In short, if I live
to be an old Woman, I must expect to wish I had died
now ; blessed in the tenderness of such a Family, &
before I had survived either them or their affection. —
You would have held the memory of your friend Jane
too in tender regret I am sure. — But the Providence
of God has restored me — & may I be more fit to appear
before him when I am summoned, than I sh d have
been now ! — Sick or Well, beleive me ever y r attached
friend
J. Austen
M rs Heathcote will be a great comfort, but we shall
not have Miss Bigg, she being frisked off like half
England, into Switzerland.
( 495 )
140] From Winchester to J. Edward Austen
146. To J. Edward Austen. Tuesday 27 May 1817
Address : J. E. Austen Esq re | Exeter College | Oxford
Postmarks : winchester my 27 181<7> and 28 (my) 1817
L. A. Austen-Leigh. 2 leaves 4°.
Memoir 2 163 ; Life 889*
Mrs. Davids, College Street — Winton
Tuesday May 27.
I know no better way my dearest Edward, of thank-
ing you for your most affectionate concern for me
during my illness, than by telling you myself as soon
as possible that I continue to get better. — I will not
boast of my handwriting ; neither that, nor my face
have yet recovered their proper beauty, but in other
respects I am gaining strength very fast. I am now
out of bed from 9 in the mom 8 to 10 at night — upon
the sopha t’is true — but I eat my meals with aunt
Cass: in a rational way, & can employ myself, and walk
from one room to another. — Mr. Lyford says he will
cure me, & if he fails I shall draw up a Memorial and
lay it before the Dean & Chapter, & have no doubt of
redress from that Pious, Learned, and Disinterested
Body. — Our Lodgings are very comfortable. We
have a neat little Drawing room with a Bow-window
overlooking Dr. Gabell’s garden. Thanks to the
kindness of your Father & Mother in sending me their
carriage, my Journey hither on Saturday was per-
formed with very little fatigue, & had it been a fine
day I think I should have felt none, but it distressed
me to see uncle Henry & Wm. K — who kindly
attended us on horseback, riding in rain almost all the
way. — We expect a visit from them tomorrow, & hope
( 496 )
Tuesday 27 May 1817 [146
they •will stay the night, and on Thursday, which is
Confirmation & a Holiday, we are to get Charles out
to breakfast. We have had but one visit yet from
him poor fellow, as he is in sick room, but he hopes
to be out to-night. —
We see Mrs. Heathcote every day, & William is to
call upon us soon. — God bless you my dear Edward.
If ever you are ill, may you be as tenderly nursed as
I have been, may the same Blessed alleviations of
anxious, simpathising friends be yours, & may you
possess — as I dare say you will — the greatest blessing
of all, in the consciousness of not being unworthy of
their Love. I could not feel this.
Your very affec: Aunt
J. A.
Had I not engaged to write to you, you w d have
heard again from your Aunt Martha, as she charged
me to tell you with her best Love.
147. To (end of May ? 1817 >
Original not traced.
Biographical Notice in Northanger Abbey 1818 ; Memoir 1 207, 224,
Memoir 2 150, 164 ; Life 891.
My attendant is encouraging, and talks of making
me quite well. I live chiefly on the sofa, but am
allowed to walk from one room to the other. I have
been out once in a sedan-chair, and am to repeat it,
and be promoted to a wheel-chair as the weather
serves. On this subject I will only say further that
my dearest sister, my tender, watchful, indefatigable
nurse, has not been made ill by her exertions. As to
what I owe to her, and to the anxious affection of all
( 497 ) K k
147] End of May f 1817
my beloved family on this occasion, I can only cry
over it, and pray to God to bless them more and more.
[She next touches with just and gentle animadversion on a
subject of domestic disappointment. Of this the particulars do
not concern the public. Yet in justice to her characteristic sweet-
ness and resignation, the concluding observation of our authoress
thereon must not be suppressed.]
But I am getting too near complaint. It has been
the appointment of God, however secondary causes
may have operated. . . .
You will find Captain a very respectable, well-
meaning man, without much manner, his wife and
sister all good humour and obligingness, and I hope
(since the fashion allows it) with rather longer petti-
coats than last year.
148. To Catherine Ann Promoting
Address : Miss Prowling
Postmark : none.
Miss Anne Tucker. Two leaves 8°.
Unpublished.
My dear Miss Prowting
Had our poor friend lived these volumes would
have been at her service, & as I know you were in the
habit of reading together & have had the gratification
of hearing that the Works of the same hand had given
you pleasure, I shall make no other apology for offering
you the perusal of them, only begging that, if not
immediately disposed for such light reading, you
would keep them as long as you like, as they are not
wanted at home.
Yours very sincerely
J. Austen
Sunday Night
( 498 )
ADDENDA
74.1. To Martha Lloyd. Sunday 29 Nov. <1812>
A ddress : Miss Lloyd
Postmark : none
Walter Hill of Chicago. (Sotheby’s 17 Apr. 1980). 2 leaves 4°.
Unpublished. See p. 291.
Chawton Sunday Nov r 29 th
My dear Martha
I shall take care not to count the lines of your last
Letter ; y ou have obliged me to eat humble-pie indeed ;
I am really obliged to you however, & though it is in
general much pleasanter to reproach than to be grate-
ful, I do not mind it now, — We shall be glad to hear,
whenever you can write, & can well imagine that
time for writing must be wanting in such an arduous,
busy, useful office as you fill at present. You are
made for doing good, & have quite as great a turn
for it I think as for physicking little Children. The
mental Physick which you have been lately applying
bears a stamp beyond all common Charity, & I hope
a Blessing will continue to attend it. — I am glad you
are well & trust you are sure of being so, while you
are employed in such a way T must hope however
that your health may eer long stand the trial of a
more common-place course of days, & that you will
be able to leave Barton when M re D. D. arrives there. —
There was no ready-made Cloak at Alton that would
do, but Coleby has undertaken to supply one in a few
days ; it is to be Grey Woollen & cost ten shillings.
I hope you like the sim of it. — Sally knows your kind
intentions & has received your message, & in re-
turn for it all, she & I have between us made out
that she sends her Duty & thanks you for your
( 499 )
74.1] From Ckawton to Martha Lloyd
goodness & means to be a good girl if I please.— I have
forgot to enquire as to her wanting anything particu-
larly, but there is no apparent deficiency, she looks
very neat & tidy. The Calico for her Mother shall
be bought soon. — We have been quite alone, except
Miss Benn, since 12 o’clock on Wednesday, when
Edward & his Harem drove from the door; & we
have since heard of their safe arrival & happiness at
Winchester. — Lizzy was much obliged to you for
your message, but she has the little room. Her Father
having his choice & being used to a very large Bed
chamber at home, would of course prefer the ample
space of yours. — The visit was a very pleasant one I
really beleive on each side ; they were certainly very
sorry to go away, but a little of that sorrow must be
attributed to a disinclination for what was before
them. They have had favourable weather however,
& I hope Steventon may have been better than they
expected. — We have reason to suppose the change of
name has taken place, as we have to forward a Letter
to Edward Knight Esq re from the Lawyer who has
the management of the business. I must learn to
make a better K. — Our next visitor is likely to be
William from Eltham in his way to Winchester, as
D r Gabell chuses he should come then before the
Holidays, though it can be only for a week. If M"
Barker has any farther curiosity about the Miss Webbs
let her know that we are going to invite them for
Tuesday even* — also Capt. & M rB Clement & Miss
Benn, & that M rs Digweed is already secured. — * But
why not M r Digweed ? ’ — M rs Barker will immediately
say — To that you may answer that M r D. is going on
tuesday to Steventon to shoot rabbits. — The 4 lines
( 500 )
Sunday 29 November 1812 [74.1
on Miss W. which I sent you were all my own, but
James afterwards suggested what I thought a great
improvement & as it stands in the Steventon Edition.
P. & P. is sold. — Egerton gives £110 for it. — I would
rather have had £150, but we could not both be pleased,
& I am not at all surprised that he should not chuse
to hazard so much. — It’s being sold will I hope be a
great saving of Trouble to Henry, & therefore must be
welcome to me. — The Money is to be paid at the end
of the twelvemonth. — You have sometimes expressed
a wish of making Miss Benn some present ; — Cas-
sandra & I think that something of the Shawl kind
to wear over her Shoulders within doors in very cold
weather might be useful, but it must not be very
handsome or she would not use it. Her long Fur
tippet is almost worn out. — If you do not return in
tune to send the Turkey yourself, we must trouble you
for M r Morton’s direction again, as we should be quite
as much at a loss as ever. It becomes now a sort of
vanity in us not to know M r Morton’s direction with
any certainty. — We are just beginning to be engaged
in another Christmas Duty, & next to eating Turkies,
a very pleasant one, laying out Edward’s money for
the Poor; & the Sum that passes through our hands
this year is considerable, as M rB Knight left £20 to
the Parish. — Your nephew William’s state seems very
alarming. Mary Jane, from whom I heard the other
day, writes of him as very uneasy ; I hope his Father
& Mother are so too. — When you see Miss Murden,
give her our Love & Good wishes, & say that we are
very sorry to hear of her so often as an Invalid. Poor
M rs Stent I hope will not be much longer a distress
to anybody. — All of you that are well enough to look,
( 501 )
74.1] From Chawton to Martha Lloyd
are now passing your Judgements I suppose on M r »
J ohn Butler ; & ‘ is she pretty ? or is she not ? ’ is
the knotty question. Happy Woman ! to stand the
gaze of a neighbourhood as the Bride of such a pink-
faced, simple young Man ! —
Monday. A wettish day, bad for Steventon.— Mary
Deedes I think must be liked there, she is so perfectly
unaffected & sweet tempered, & tho’ as ready to
be pleased as Fanny Cage, deals less in superlatives
& rapture. — Pray give our best comp* 8 to M rB Dundas
& tell her that we hope soon to hear of her complete
recovery. — Yours affect: y
J. Austen
( 502 )
i
t
Addenda [78.1
78.1. To Martha Lloyd. Tuesday 16 Feb. <1813>
Address : Miss Lloyd*
Postmark : none.
Sotheby’s 1 Aug. 1988, ‘the property of a Lady,’ to whose courtesy I
owe a copy. See p. 805.
Chawton Tuesday Feb: 16.
My dear Martha
Y our long Letter was valued as it ought, & as I think
it fully entitled to a second from me, I am going to
answer it now in an handsome manner before Cas-
sandra’s return ; after which event, as I shall have the
benefit of all your Letters to her I claim nothing more.
— I have great pleasure in what you communicate of
Anna, & sincerely rejoice in Miss Murden’s amend-
ment ; & only wish there were more stability in the
Character of their two constitutions. — -I will not say
anything of the weather we have lately had, for if you
were not aware of it ’s being terrible, it would be cruel
to put it in your head. My Mother slept through a
good deal of Sunday, but still it was impossible not to
be disordered by such a sky, & even yesterday she was
but poorly. She is pretty well again today, & I am in
hopes may not be much longer a Prisoner. — We are
going to be all alive from this forenoon to tomorrow
afternoon; — it will be over when you receive this, &
you may think of me as one not sorry that it is so.
George, Henry & William will soon be here & are to
stay the night — and tomorrow the 2 Deedes’ & Henry
Bridges will be added to our party ; — we shall then
have an early dinner & dispatch them all to Win-
chester. We have no late account from Sloane S 1 &
therefore conclude that everything is going on in one
regular progress, without any striking change. — Henry
( 503 )
78.1] From Chawton to Martha Lloyd
was to be in Town again last Tuesday. — I have a
Letter from Frank ; they are all at Deal again, estab-
lished once more in fresh Lodgings. I think they must
soon have lodged in every house in the Town.— We read
of the Pyramus being returned into Port, with interest
— & fear M rs D.D. will be regretting that she came
away so soon. — There is no being up to the tricks of
the Sea. — Your friend has her little Boys about her I
imagine. I hope their Sister enjoyed the Ball at Lady
Keith — tho’ I do not know that I do much hope it, for
it might be quite as well to have her shy & uncomfort-
able in such a croud of Strangers.
I am obliged to you for your enquiries about
Northamptonshire, but do not wish you to renew
them, as I am sure of getting the intelligence I want
from Henry, to whom I can apply at some convenient
moment ‘ sans peur et sans reproche ’. — I suppose all
the World is sitting in Judgement upon the Princess
of Wales’s Letter. Poor woman, I shall support her
as long as I can, because she is a Woman, & because
I hate her Husband — but I can hardly forgive her for
calling herself ‘ attached & affectionate ’ to a Man
whom she must detest — & the intimacy said to subsist
between her & Lady Oxford is bad — I do not know
what to do about it ; but if I must give up the Princess,
I am resolved at least always to think that she would
have been respectable, if the Prince had behaved only
tolerably by her at first. —
Old Philmore is got pretty well, well enough to
warn Miss Benn out of her House. His son is to come
into it. — Poor Creature ! — Y ou may imagine how full of
cares she must be, & how anxious all Chawton will feel
to get her decently settled somewhere. — She will have
( 504 )
Tuesday 16 February 1813 [78.1
3 months before her. — & if anything else can be met
with, she will be glad enough to be driven from her
present wretched abode it has been terrible for her
during the late storms of wind & rain. — Cassandra has
been rather out of luck at Manydown— but that is
a House, in which one is tolerably independent of
weather. — The Prowtings perhaps come down on
Thursday or Saturday, but the accounts of him do not
improve. Now X think I may in Quantity have
deserved your Letter. My ideas of Justice in Episto-
lary Matters are you know very strict. — with Love
from my Mother, I remain. Y rs very affec ,y
J. Austen
Poor John Harwood! — One is really obliged to
engage in Pity again on his account — & when there is
a lack of money, one is on pretty sure grounds. — So
after all, Charles, that thick-headed Charles is the best
off of the Family. I rather grudge him his 2,500£.
My Mother is very decided in selling Deane — and if it
is not sold, I think it will be clear that the Proprietor
can have no plan of marrying.
( 505 )
99.1] From Hans Place to Martha Lloyd
99.1 To Martha Lloyd. Friday 2 Sept. 1814.
Address : Miss Lloyd Capt“. Deans Dundas’ R.N. Pulteney Street.
Bath.
Postmark : 3 se 1814.
Mrs. R. M. Mowll. Defective at end and where the seal has caused
a tear.
28 Hans Place Friday Sep r . 2 d .
My dear Martha
The prospect of a long quiet morning determines me
to write to you. I have been often thinking of it
before, but without being quite able to do it — and
You are too busy, too happy and too rich I hope, to
care much for Letters. — It gave me very great pleasure
to hear that your money was paid, it must have been
a circumstance to increase every enjoyment you can
have had with your friends — and altogether I think
you must be spending your time most comfortably.
The weather can hardly have incommoded you by it’s
heat. — We have had many evenings here so cold, that
I was sure there must be fires in the Country. — How
many alterations you must perceive in Bath! and how
many People and Things gone by, must be recurring to
you! — I hope you will see Clifton. Henry takes me
home tomorrow; I rather expect at least to be at
Chawton before night, tho’ it may not be till early on
Sunday, as we shall lengthen the Journey by going
round by Sunning Hill; his favourite M rs Crutchley
lives there, and he wants to introduce me to her. — W e
offered a visit in our way, to the Birches, but they can-
not receive us, which is a disappointment. — He comes
back again on Wednesday, and perhaps brings James
with him ; so it was settled, when J ames was here ; he
wants to see Scarman again, as his Gums last week
(506)
Friday 2 September 1814 [99.1
were not in a proper state for Scarman’s operations.
I cannot tell how much of all this may be known to
you already.— I shall have spent my 12 days here very
pleasantly, but with not much to tell of them ; two or
three very little Dinner-parties at home, some delight-
ful Drives in the Curricle, and quiet Tea-drinkings
with the Tilsons, has been the sum of my doings. I
have seen no old acquaintances I think, but M r
Hampson. Henry met with Sir Brook and Lady
Bridges by chance, and they were to have dined with
us yesterday, had they remained in Town. I am amused
by the present style of female dress ; the coloured petti-
coats with braces over the white Spencers and enormous
Bonnets upon the full stretch, are quite entertaining.
It seems to me a more marked change than one has
lately seen.— Long sleeves appear universal, even as
Dress, the Waists short, and as far as I have been able
to judge, the Bosom covered.— I was at a little party
last night at M« Latouche’s, where dress is a good
deal attended to, and these are my observations from
Petticoats short, and generally, tho’ not always,
flounced. The broad-straps belonging to the Gown or
Boddice, which cross the front of the Waist, over
white, have a very pretty effect I think.— I have seen
West’s famous Painting, and prefer it to anything of
the kind I ever saw before. I do not know that it is
reckoned superior to his ‘Healing in the Temple’, but
it has gratified me much more, and indeed is the first
representation of our Saviour which ever at all con-
tented me. ‘His Rejection by the Elders’, is the
subject. I want to have You and Cassandra see it.
I am extremely pleased with this new House of Henry’s
it is everything that could be wished for him, and I
( 507 )
99.1] From Hans Place to Martha Lloyd
have only to hope he will continue to like it as well
as he does now, and not be looking out for anything
better. — He is in very comfortable health ; — he has not
been so well, he says, for a twelvemonth. — His view,
. and the veiw of those he mixes with, of Politics, is
not chearful — with regard to an American war I
mean ; — they consider it as certain, and as what is to
ruin us. The ( ) cannot be conquered, and
we shall only be teaching them the skill in War which
they may now want. We are to make them good
Sailors and Soldiers, and g(ain?) nothing ourselves.
— If we are to be ruined, it cannot be helped — but I
place my hope of better things on a claim to the pro-
tection of Heaven, as a Religious Nation, a Nation in
spite of much Evil improving in Religion, which I
cannot beleive the Americans to possess. — However
this may be, M r Barlowe is to dine with us today,
and I am in some hope of getting Egerton’s account
before I go away — so we will enjoy ourselves as long
as we can. My Aunt does not seem pleased with Capt.
and M rB D. D. for taking a House in Bath, I was
afraid she would not like it, but I ( ) do.
— When I get home, I shall hear (thore. I sh)all
be very happy to find myself at ( )
Miss Benn ( ) to hear M r *
Digweed’s goodhumoured communications. The lan-
guage of London is flat; it wants her phrase. — Dear
me ! I wonder if you have seen Miss Irvine ! — At this
time of year, she is more likely to be out of Bath
than in.
One of our afternoon drives was to Streatham, where
I had the pleasure of seeing M r * Hill as well and
comfortable as usual ; — but there is a melancholy dis-
( 608 )
Friday 2 September 1814 [99.1
proportion between the Papa and the little Children.—
She told me that the Audrys have taken that sweet
St. Bo(niface) hoped be ( ) Ventnor (two
lines missing , with the conclusion ).
Pray give my best (com)pts. to your Friends. — I
have not forgotten their parti(cular) claim to my
Gratitude as an Author. — We have j(ust learn )ed that
M r * C. Austen is safe in bed with a Girl. — It happened
on board, a fortnig(ht) before it was expected.
( 509 )
122 . 1 ]
To Charles Thomas Roden
122.1. To Charles Thomas Haden. Thursday
<14 Dec . 1815 )
Address : C. Haden Esq.
Mrs. Henry Burke. Not published.
Dear Sir
We return these volumes with many Thanks. They
have afforded us great amusement.— As we were out
ourselves yesterday Even* we were glad to find you had
not called — but shall depend upon your giving us some
part of this Even*. — I leave Town early on Saturday,
& must say ‘Good bye’ to you. —
y r obliged & faithful
J. Austen
Thursday.
( 510 )
Addenda
[141.1
141.1. To Caroline Austen Friday 14 March (1817)
A- ddress : Miss C tiroline Austen. No postmark.
Lady Charnwood (1939).
My dear Caroline
You will receive a message from me Tomorrow, &
today you will receive the parcel itself; therefore I
should not like to be in that Message’s shoes, it will
look so much like a fool. I am glad to hear of your
proceedings & improvements in the Gentleman Quack.
There was a great deal of Spirit in the first part. Our
objections to it You have heard, & I give your Author-
ship credit for bearing Criticism so well.— -I hope
Edw 4 is not idle. No matter what becomes of the
Craven Exhibition provided he goes on with his Novel
In that, he will find his true fame & his true wedth.
That will be the honourable Exhibition which no Y.
Chancellor can rob him of. — I have just rec 4 nearly
twenty pounds myself on the 2 d Edit : of S & S— which
gives me this fine flow of Literary Ardour.—
Tell your Mama, I am very much obliged to her for
the Ham she intends sending me, & that the Seacale
wiU be extreemly acceptable— is I should say, as we
have got it already; the future, relates only to our
time of dressing it, which will not be till Uncles Henry
& Frank can dine here together.— Do you know that
Mary J ane went to Town with her Papa ? They were
there last week from Monday to Saturday, & she was
as happy as possible. She spent a dav in Kennel S'
with Gassy ; & her Papa is sure that she must have
walked 8 or 9 miles in a morn* with him. Your Aunt
F. spent the week with us, & one Child with her,
( 511 )
141.1] To Caroline Austen
changed every day. The Piano Forte’s Duty, & will
be happy to see you whenever you can come.
yrs affect
J. Austen
Chawton March 14.
149. (To Caroline Austen?), n.d.
From a copy at Frog Firle, where the late E. C. Austen-Leigh lived,
headed ‘Scrap in Jane Austen’s handwriting pasted at foot of a
framed engraving (portrait)’.
We four sweet Brothers & Sisters dine today at
the G‘. House. Is not that quite natural? Grand-
mama & Miss Lloyd will be by themselves, I do not
exactly know what they will have for dinner, very
likely some pork,
Addenda : Letter 10
Page 22. Add (from the MS., omitted by Lord Brabourne):
(indisposed) ‘from that particular kind of evacuation which has
generally preceded her illnesses.’
(at Staines) felt a heat in her throat as we travelled yesterday
morning, which seemed to foretell more Bile. — She bore her Journey
however much’ (better than).
(accordingly did.) ‘It is by no means wonderful that her Journey
should have produced some kind of visitation ; — I hope a few days
will entirely remove it.’
Page 23. (went to bed.) ‘Lyford has promised to call in the course
of a few days, & then they will settle about the Dandelion Tea ; the
receipts for which were shewn him at Basingstoke, & he approved
of them highly, they will only require some slight alteration to be
better adapted to my Mother’s constitution.’
(visit.) ‘Mary is quite all he says, & uncommonly large’ [James
Edward was born 17 November].
For ‘Japan ink’ read ‘Japan silk’.
Page 26. (she is better.) ‘I shall be able to be more positive on this
subject I hope tomorrow.*
(good night, and) ‘tho’ she did not get up to breakfast,*.
( 512 )
APPENDIX
1. Letters from Cassandra Austen to Fanny Knight
on J ane Austen's death
Braboume ii 333-11. The best letter has been enlisted, by the
courtesy of Mr. Percy Dobell, with the original in the possession
of his firm. The second I have not seen.
Winchester Sunday
My dearest Fanny— doubly dear to me now for her
dear sake whom we have lost.
She did love you most sincerely, & never shall I
forget the proofs of love you gave her during her illness
m writing those kind, amusing letters at a time when
I know your feelings would have dictated so different
a style. Take the only reward I can give you in my
assurance that your benevolent purpose was answer’d j
you did contribute to her enjoyment. Even your last
letter afforded pleasure, I merely cut the seal & gave
it to her ; she opened it & read it herself, afterwards
she gave it me to read, & then talked to me a little
& not unchearfully of its contents, but there was then
a languor about her which prevented her taking the
same interest in any thing, she had been used to do.
Since Tuesday evening, when her complaint re-
turnd, there was a visible change, she slept more &
much more comfortably, indeed during the last eight
& forty hours she was more asleep than awake. Her
looks altered & she fell away, but I perceived no
material diminution of strength & tho’ I was then
hopeless of a recovery I had no suspicion how rapidly
my loss was approaching.— I have lost a treasure,
such a Sister, such a friend as never can have been
(513) L 1
Cassandra Austen to Fanny Knight
surpassed, — she was the sun of my life, the gilder of
every pleasure, the soother of every sorrow, I had not a
thought concealed from her, & it is as if I had lost
a part of myself. I loved her only too well, not better
than she deserved, but I am conscious that my affec-
tion for her made me sometimes unjust to & negligent
of others, & I can acknowledge, more than as a general
principle, the justice of the hand which has struck this
blow. You know me too well to be at all afraid that
I should suffer materially from my feelings, I am per-
fectly conscious of the extent of my irreparable loss,
but I am not at all overpowerd & very little in-
disposed, nothing but what a short time, with rest &
change of air will remove. I thank God that I was
enabled to attend her to the last & amongst my many
causes of self-reproach I have not to add any wilfull
neglect of her comfort. She felt herself to be dying
about half an hour before she became tranquil and
aparently unconscious. During that half hour was
her struggle, poor soul ! she said she could not tell us
what she sufferd, tho she complaind of little fixed
pain. When I asked her if there was any thing she
wanted, her answer, was she wanted nothing but death
& some of her words were ‘God grant me patience,
Pray for me oh Pray for me Her voice was affected
but as long as she spoke she was intelligible. I hope
I do not break your heart my dearest Fanny by these
particulars, I mean to afford you gratification whilst
I am relieving my own feelings. I could not write so
to any body else, indeed you are the only person I have
written to at all excepting your Grandmama, it was
to her not your Uncle Charles I wrote on Friday. —
Immediately after dinner on Thursday I went into the
( 514 )
July 1817
Town to do an errand which your dear Aunt was
anxious about. I returnd about a quarter before six
& found her recovering from faintness & oppression,
she got so well as to be able to give me a minute ac-
count of her seisure & when the clock struck 6 she
was talking quietly to me. I cannot say how soon
afterwards she was seized again with the same faint-
ness, which was followed by the sufferings she could not
describe, but Mr. Lyford had been sent for, had applied
something to give her ease & she was in a state of
quiet insensibility by seven oclock at the latest. From
that time till half past four, when she ceased to breathe,
she scarcely moved a limb, so that we have every
reason to think, with gratitude to the Almighty that
her sufferings were over. A slight motion of the head
with every breath remaind till almost the last. I sat
close to her with a pillow in my lap to assist in sup-
porting her head, whjch was almost off the bed, for
six hours, fatigue made me then resign my Diace to
M» J. A. for two hours & a half when I took it again
& in about one hour more she breathed her last. I was
able to close her eyes myself & it was a great gratifica-
tion to me to render her these last services. There
was nothing convulsed or which gave the idea of pain
in her look, on the contrary, but for the continual
motion of the head, she gave me the idea of a beautiful
statue, & even now in her coffin, there is such a sweet
serene air over her countenance as is quite pleasant to
contemplate. This day my dearest Fanny you have
had the melancholly intelligence & I know you suffer
severely, but I likewise know that you will apply to
the fountain-head for consolation & that our merciful
od is never deaf to such prayers as you will offer.
( 515 )
Cassandra Austen to Fanny Knight
The last sad ceremony is to take place on Thursday
morning, her dear remains are to be deposited in the
cathedral — it is a satisfaction to me to think that they
are to lie in a Building she admird so much — her
precious soul I presume to hope reposes in a far
superior Mansion. May mine one day be reunited to
it. — Your dear Papa, your Uncles Henry & Frank &
Edw d Austen instead of his Father will attend, I hope
they will none of them suffer lastingly from their pious
exertions. — 'The ceremony must be over before ten
o’clock as the cathedral service begins at that hour,
so that we shall be at home early in the day, for there
will be nothing to keep us here afterwards. — Your
Uncle James came to us yesterday & is gone home
to day— Uncle H. goes to Chawton to-morrow morn-
ing, he has given every necessary direction here & I
think his company there will do good. He returns to
us again on Tuesday evening. I did not think to have
written a long letter when I began, but I have found
the employment draw me on & I hope I shall have
been giving you more pleasure than pain.
Remember me kindly to M rs J. Bridges (I am so glad
she is with you now) & give my best love to Lizzy &
all the others. I am my dearest Fanny
Most affect ly yrs
Cass. Eliz™ Austen
I have said nothing about those at Chawton because
I am sure you hear from your Papa.
( 516 )
July 1817
Chawton: Tuesday (July 29, 1817).
My dearest Fanny,
I have just read your letter for the third time, and
thank you most sincerely for every kind expression
to myself, and still more warmly for your praises of
her who I believe was better known to you than to
any human being besides myself. Nothing of the sort
could have been more gratifying to me than the man-
ner in which you write of her, and if the dear angel
is conscious of what passes here, and is not above all
earthly feelings, she may perhaps receive pleasure in
being so mourned. Had she been the survivor I can
fancy her speaking of you in almost the same terms.
There are certainly many points of strong resemblance
in your characters ; in your intimate acquaintance with
each other, and your mutual strong affection, you were
counterparts.
Thursday was not so dreadful a day to me as you
imagined. There was so much necessary to be done that
there was no time for additional misery. Everything
was conducted with the greatest tranquillity, and but
that I was determined I would see the last, and there-
fore was upon the listen, I should not have known
when they left the house. I watched the little mourn-
ful procession the length of the street; and when it
turned from my sight, and I had lost her for ever,
even then I was not overpowered, nor so much agitated
as I am now in writing of it. Never was human being
more sincerely mourned by those who attended her
remains than was this dear creature. May the sorrow
with which she is parted with on earth be a prognostic
of the joy with which she is hailed in heaven !
I continue very tolerably well — much better than
( 5X7 )
any one could have supposed possible, because I
certainly have had considerable fatigue of body as
well as anguish of mind for months back ; but I really
am well, and I hope I am properly grateful to the
Almighty for having been so supported. Your grand-
mamma, too, is much better than when I came home.
I did not think your dear papa appeared unwell
and I understand that he seemed much more comfort-
able after his return from Winchester than he had
done before. I need not tell you that he was a great
comfort to me ; indeed, I can never say enough of the
kindness I have received from him and from every
I get out of doors a good deal and am able to employ
myself. Of course those employments suit me best
which leave me most at leisure to think of her I have
lost, and I do think of her in every variety of circum-
stance. In our happy hours of confidential intercourse,
in the cheerful family party which she so ornamented,
in her sick room, on her death-bed, and as (I hope)
an inhabitant of heaven. ‘Oh, if I may one day be
re-united to her there! I know the time must come
when my mind will be less engrossed by her idea, but
I do not like to think of it. If I think of her less as on
earth, God grant that I may never cease to reflect on
her as inhabiting heaven, and never cease my humble
endeavours (when it shall please God) to join her there.
In looking at a few of the precious papers which are
now my property I have found some memorandums,
amongst which she desires that one of her gold chains
may be given to her god-daughter Louisa, and a lock
of her hair be set for you. You can need no assurance,
my dearest F anny, that every request of your beloved
( 518 )
July 1817
aunt will be sacred with me. Be so good as to say
whether you prefer a brooch or ring. God bless you,
my dearest Fanny.
Believe me, most affectionately yours,
Cass. Elizth. Austen.
Miss Knight, Godmersham Park,
Canterbury.
2. Jane Austen's Will.
I JANE AUSTEN of the Parish of Chawton do by
this my last Will and testament give and bequeath to
my dearest sister Cassandra Eliz’th every thing of
which I may die possessed or which may hereafter
be due to me subject to the payment of my funeral
expenses and to a legacy of £50 to my brother Henry
and £50 to Mde Bijion which I request may be paid
as soon as convenient and I appoint my said dear
sister EXECUTRIX of this my last Will and testament
JANE AUSTEN April 27; 1817.
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CIIAWTON CHURCH
PLAN OF CHAWTON
NOTES
The first object of these notes is to enable the reader to distin-
guish persons ambiguously named, and so to refer to the
Indexes if more information is wanted. It may be borne in
mind that 'my Uncle’ and ‘my Aunt’ always mean Mr. and
Mrs. Leigh Perrot; that ‘Mary’ may be either Mrs. James or
Mrs. Frank Austen (often ‘Mrs. J. A.’ and ‘Mrs. F. A.’);
‘Elizabeth’ either Mrs. Edward Austen (her daughter is’
always ‘Lizzie’) or Elizabeth Bigg, Mrs. Heathcote; ‘Eliza’
either Mrs. Henry Austen or Mrs. Fowle; ‘Edward’ either
J. A.’s brother, or his son, or James’s son James Edward.
The index of places indicates that ‘ Goodnestone ’ means the
Bridges, ‘Hamstall’ the Coopers, &c.
1 . Sat. 9 Jan. 1796
1. very near of an age is a playful exaggeration, for C. E. A.
was born 9 Jan. 1773 and T. L. not until 1776 (unless the
authorities err).
2. my Irish friend: Tom Lefroy.
Henry goes to Harden : to the Coopers. Caroline Cooper’s
mother recorded in her diary for May 1793, ‘Edward and
Caroline went to Harpsden to live, a very pretty place near
Henley’ (Diaries of Mrs. Lybbe Powys).
3. Alithea : Bigg.
Do
Charles: Fowle, as p. 4 shows ; but at the foot of this page,
Charles Austen.
adjutancy: the project was successfully revived, 6ee p. 31.
Tom Jones: Book 7, chapter 14. ‘As soon as the sergeant
was departed, Jones rose from his bed, and dressed himself
entirely, putting on even his coat, which, as its colour was
white, showed very visibly the streams of blood which had
flowed down it.’
4. Tom : perhaps Williams ; if so it could no doubt be deter-
mined what ship he is jocularly supposed to have named ;
perhaps the Unicorn. See, however, the note on p. 5.
1 - 4 ]
Notes
Miss M.i perhaps Miss Murden, whose mother was a
Fowle. "
2 . Thur. 14 Jan. 1796
Since this letter was printed I have received from Mr. David-
son Cook a collation with the original. There are no corrections
of note. The postmark is 16 Jan. 1796.
5. Anna: James Austen’s child.
d I° m ' , 11 haS been assuraed > e -g- by the authors of Sailor
Brothers that this is Thomas Williams, R.N. ; and the context
here and on p. 4 makes this plausible. On the other hand, Tom
m a letter from Jane to Cassandra at Kintbury, and just after
a mention of Mr. and Mrs. Fowle, may well mean Cassandra’s
nance Tom Fowle ; who at about this time went to the West
Indies as chaplain to his kinsman Lord Craven’s regiment.
He died there in Feb. 1797. Cassandra no doubt destroyed
any letters of that time ; we have none for 1797. I have not
been able to find any record of the embarkation, which would
settle the point.
Friday, 8th : J. A. wrote Friday the 8th.
6. don't: J. A. wrote do not.
Tom : Chute,
Edward : Cooper.
3 . Tues. — Aug . 1796
Since my text was printed I have learned that a facsimile
is in the second edition of 0. F. Adams, The Story of Jane
Austen's Life t Boston, 1897. The facsimile supplies no verbal
correction.
4. Thur . 1 Sept 1796
8. at school . See Memoir , ch. 1, or Life , p. 26, for J. A.’s
schooldays at Reading.
for Yarmouth: to join his regiment.
9. Camilla . See note on p. 13.
Fanny : Cage (and on p. 10).
10. Louisa : Bridges.
stout : probably robust , with no reference to girth, as (?) al-
ways ; see Index VII.
Notes
[5
5 . Mon. 5 Sept. 1796
11* Michael looks more like & principal ttuui & servflnt j
possibly Michael Terry, one of a large family.
the Marys : Lloyd and Harrison.
Harriot and Louisa Bridges, Frank Austen, Fanny Cage ;
George is doubtful. (On p. 12 he looks like a Cage, but I cannot
find a George C.)
Henry seems here, and on pp. 12, 18, to be Henry Austen,
not Henry Bridges (the ‘Mr. Bridges’ of pp. 9, 12), though
he too was of the party. Henry B. would not be writing to
Steventon. The same ambiguity arises on pp. 163, 166, 219.
12. Miss Bridges is, perhaps, Marianne, then the oldest un-
married d. of Sir Brook III, and just 21. Lord Fitzwalter (to
whom I owe this suggestion) knows of no other candidate ;
Sir Brook had no sister.
without fayh perhaps Frank’s spelling, or Charles’s—
hardly Henry’s.
CTixho.ll Tuffi not, as has naturally enough been assumed,
a church, but a wood, which to-day has some fine oaks.
13. Dr. MarchmonL For his respectable meddling between
Camilla and her young man see that work passim, and especially
the last page of the last volume, where we are told that he at
last acknowledged its injustice, its narrowness, and its arro-
gance’.
The name of ‘Miss J. Austen, Steventon’ is in the list of
subscribers to Co7tiillo t What is no doubt her copy was lately
presented to the Bodleian by a descendant of Sir Francis
Austen. It contains in each volume the inscription ‘ Cass. Eliz.
Austen and (also in Cassandra’s hand) ‘Given to Lady Austen
May 1837’ ; Lady Austen is best known to us as Martha Lloyd ;
she became Lady Austen in Feb. 1837, when her husband
became Sir Francis.
In the lower margin of the last page of the last volume is
a pencil inscription which I have no doubt was written by the
first owner. She, as a subscriber, received the volumes in
boards, uncut, and probably she wrote her comment when she
finished the book in 1796. Later it was half-bound (Cassandra’s
signature is on the end-paper) and the inscription was mutilated,
M m
5 - 6 ] Notes
slightly in the outer margin, but more severely in the lower
margin, where I think it has lost a line or two lines. The
inscription is also faint, but I read it thus :
Since this work went to the Press a
Circumstance of some Importance to the
happiness of Camilla has taken place,
namely that Dr. Marchmont has at last . . .
and I conjecture that in the missing conclusion J. A. pleased
herself with the intelligence of Dr. Marchmont’s death.
Of Mary Harrison’s love affairs I know nothing, but there
may be some connexion between this passage and p. 134.
6. Thur. 15 Sept. 1796
14, Lucy : Lefroy.
my Aunt Fielding . Members of Miss Austen’s family and
others have been puzzled by places in the letters where ‘my
aunt’ or ‘my cousin’ is applied to persons not so related to the
writer, Cf,
p, 279 our cousin Miss Payne
p. 280 our cousin Margt, Beckford
p, 282 my aunt Harding
p. 283 my cousin Flora Long
p. 310 my cousin CaroZine
In most of these places it is clear that the personal pronoun
is quoted as from a third person. Mrs. Fielding’s husband was
half-brother to Sir Brook Bridges III, and she would naturally
be called aunt by Sir Brook’s children. Mrs. Harding (282) and
her niece Flora Long (283) are evidently connexions of the
Terrys, ‘My cousin CaroZine’ (310) is no doubt Mrs, Tilson’s
cousin; the italics indicate her pronunciation. See also note
on p. 280.
15. Jane : Cooper.
Seward's coming over : from Chawton, no doubt.
Miss HolwelL Governor H. was one of the survivors of
the Black Hole, of which in 1758 he published a Genuine
Narrative,
Fly : Frank.
Notes [ 6-1 1
16. The last four paragraphs are marginal additions in
various parts of the letter, she accompanies evidently refers to
Miss Pearson, not to Miss Harrison.
7. Sun. 18 Sept. 1796
17. commanded by the Triton: a playful inversion.
Maty: Pearson. She was the elder daughter, elsewhere
always Miss Pearson.
9. Wed. 24 Oct. 1798
20. Daniel was the Godmersham coachman. No doubt the
first stage was accomplished in Edward Austen’s own carriage.
Cax : not explained.
21. Harry : Digweed (p. 26).
Midnight Bell : by Francis Lathom.
and mother. I think J. A. wrote & my mother.
22. Dordy : her nephew George.
10. Sat. 27 Oct. 1798
24. Mr. W. Mrs. Austen wrote to Mary Lloyd a letter of
congratulation on her engagement to James Austen, dated
Steventon, 30 Nov. 1796, a copy of which is in the Lefroy MS.
‘ Tell Martha she too shall be my daughter, she does me honour
in the request, and Mr. W. shall be my son if he pleases. Don’t
be alarmed my dear Martha, I have kept and will keep your
secret/ J
11. Sat. 17 Nov. 1798
27. her nephew: Tom Lefroy.
her friend. See Index II, s.v. Blackall, and Life 86.
28. on the letter. Lord Brabourne prints in.
M'Miss Cuthbert: Lord Brabourne (i. 228) explains that
Miss C. and her sister Maria lived at Eggarton House near
Godmersham, where they had charge of a weak-minded sister
of Mr. Thomas Knight ; see Eggerton in Index III.
30. a fine little boy: J. A. announces the birth of her bio-
grapher.
12 - 15 ] Notes
12. Sun . 25 Nov , 1798
81. tiie qualification. Henry ‘joined the Oxford Militia as
lieutenant in 1793, becoming adjutant and captain four years
later’. Life 107. Mr. Mowell was probably Morrell, see Index II.
the Colonel : Gore-Langton.
32. Oxford smack has not been explained.
Egertoni Brydges.
13. Sat . 1 Dec . 1798
34. East India Directors. See p. 47,
You and my mother is, I think, an error for You and my
Brother; Br in J. A.’s hand need not be very unlike M. It
would be much more natural to ‘ address this advice ’ to two
persons then in the same place than to one at a distance and
one under the same roof as the writer ; and the description
tender-hearted fits Edward and Cassandra particularly well.
35. his mother and child must be his mother-in-law Mrs.
Lloyd (who lived at Ibthrop) and his daughter Anna; the child
in 1. 3 is clearly the baby at Deane, James Edward.
14. Tues . 18 Dec . 1798
37 . your Business : connected perhaps with her legacy from
her fiance Tom Fowle. But his will was proved in May 1797.
38. Sir Tho 9 : Williams.
a dish of Tea: in honour of her birthday 10 Dec.
15. Mon . 24 Dec. 1798
42. happiness to Martha . It has been confidently assumed
(e.g. by the authors of Sailor Brothers) that Cassandra and
Jane were making a match between Frank and Martha (who
were actually married thirty years later). But we ought not
to forget Mr. W. (see note on p. 24). Perhaps he, too, was a
naval officer in need of promotion.
43. Butcher . . . Temple . See Index II, The Powlett corre-
spondence has no letters of the winter 1798-9 ; but at other
times Frank Temple was staying with his brother-in-law and
sister, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Powlett; and letters from F. T.
to Mrs. C, P. (at Hackwood Farm, Basingstoke; C. P. was
Notes
[15
related to Lord Bolton) show that he and his friend Butcher
had stayed with the Powletts in March or April 1797. They
returned to Portsmouth; ‘but Butcher poor fellow was very
near being left behind, the Sans Paraeil had gone to St. Helens \
‘The horrid one of all’ may be one of Frank’s brothers, for
whose careers and characters see Mr. Bettany’s edition of
W. J. Temple’s Diaries (Oxford, 1929). There was a Butcher
in the 11th Light Dragoons, but we need not pursue him.
Mr. Calland , Rector of Bentworth, excites curiosity
because his behaviour is so like Darcy’s — and this is the time
at which First Impressions was composed. He was twelve
years J. A.’s senior. His attachment to his hat is noticed in
a versified account of a Basingstoke ball of 1794 ‘sent by Mrs.
Austen to one of her Daughters staying from home’ (Lefroy
MS.):
And Bentworth’s Rector, with his hat,
Unwillingly he parts from that.
He appears again in a letter from Nancy Powlett to her husband
(Powlett correspondence, 5 April 1799):
‘You know my dear Love the Beaux always find out your
absence immediately — no sooner had you mounted your
Horse than one made his appearance — he was let in, and
exerted himself to entertain me for near an Hour; when
I tell you this said Beau was Mr. Calland you will not be
surprised that all his exertions were unsuccessful. ... At
last he took his leave. Perhaps for the sake of my vanity
I ought to conceal that his motive for calling, I believe, was
to ask your assistance next Sunday.’
44. supped with the Prince. See also p. 45. The Prince was
clearly Prince William of Gloucester, whose military duties
no doubt brought him into Kent. Mrs. Lybbe Powys’s diary
for the Canterbury race-week, 1798, is full of his affability and
volubility. He dined with the Dean on 25 Aug. (the Dean was
a bachelor, and on this occasion his sister-in-law Mrs. L. P.
did the honours) and during the play which followed, ‘for he
there talked almost as much as during dinner, he told me he
was to sup at Dr. Welsby’s, and then ... set off for Ashford’.
It was at Ashford that C. E. A. supped with him.
15-17] j Votes
Mrs. L. P. records the ‘dinner for Prince
Gloucester’ as follows:
Salmon Trout
Soles
Fricando of Veal. Rais’d Giblet Pie
Vegetable Pudding
Chickens. Ham
Muffin Pudding
Curry of Rabbits. Preserve of Olives
Soup. Haunch of Venison
Open Tart Syllabub. Rais’d Jelly
Three Sweetbreads, larded
Maccaroni. Ruttered Lobster
Peas
Potatoes
Baskets of Pastry, Custards
Goose
16. Fri. 28 Dec. 1798
47 . the India House. See p. 34. Sir William Foster sends
me these extracts from the Court Minutes of the Company :
5 Dec. 1798. The request of Lieut. Francis William Austen
to be allowed passage money from India was referred to a
committee.
10 Feb. 1801. A letter from Capt. F. W. A. ‘stating the
grounds of his former application’ for an allowance ‘to
indemnify him for his expences in returning from India ’ in
1793 was referred to the same committee.
4 March 1801. On the committee’s report the claim was
disallowed.
His later relations with the Company were happier. In 1808
and 1809 substantial sums were voted to him ‘for the Purchase
of a Piece of Plate’, or without such appropriation, with the
Company’s thanks for various services.
17. Tues. 8 Jan. 1799
49. mamalone is thought by Miss Constance Hill (p. 76) a
misreading for mamalouc. ‘The battle of the Nile had set the
fashion in ladies’ dress. In the fashion-plates we find Mamalouc
cloaks and Mamalouc robes. . . , Ladies wear toupees, some-
Notes [17-18
what resembling a fez, which we recognize as the Mamalouc
cap.’
F — has lost his election at B — , The blanks are Lord
Brabourne’s, no doubt. Failing to trace a parliamentary
election (defeat in which might have deprived the candidate
of immunity from arrest for debt — one reason for shunning
company), I suggested (Times Lit . Suppt. 17 Sept. 1931) a
scholarship or fellowship election. The name which most
readily occurs is that of Fulwar (Craven Fowle). But he was
too old, having taken his M.A. in 1788.
50. on Harriet's account . There was, I think, no Harriet at
Eastwell ; but H. Bridges may have joined the Fineh-IIatton
family for music lessons.
JF W (the blanks may be Lord Brabourne’s) is
not identified.
giving her name to a set J. A. means that she has called
this house-party ‘the Biggs’, though only Catherine B. was
strictly so named ; for her father and brother were Bigg- Wither
and her sister had become Mrs. Heathcote.
51. act of generosity . Mrs. Knight’s abdication in favour of
her adopted son was subject to an annuity for herself of £2,000.
52. Mr. South . The Bishop’s name was North.
The Miss Charterises . I can make nothing of these ladies,
nor of the Miss Edens whom they emulated.
53. Jeffereys , &c.: not identified.
18 . Mon. 21 Jan . 1799
55. Elizabeth Caroline ; Fowle.
Our first cousins . They had three— one on their father’s
side, Eliza Hancock (de Feuillide) who 31 Dec. 1797 became
Mrs. Henry A., two on their mother’s, Edward Cooper and his
sister Jane, Lady Williams, who died Aug. 1798.
the other living: that of Ryton in Shropshire to which, no
doubt, Lord Craven had meant to present his protege Tom
Fowle, Cassandra’s fiance. Mrs. Austen writes to Mary Lloyd,
30 Nov. 1796 (see note on p. 24), ‘I look forward to you as
a real comfort in my old age when Cassandra is gone into
Shropshire and Jane — the Lord knows where’. Mary, fixed
1 8 - 20 ] ^tes
at Deane (and no doubt James’s succession to Steventon was
already foreseen) would always be near ; for a move to Bath
was not yet in contemplation.
Fulwar: Fowle.
56. Harris Bigg-Wither is mentioned three times, the last
reference being Nov. 1800. The story of his proposing marriage
to J.A. m 1802 is mentioned in Memoir (28), and is told in full
in Life (92) but without the gentleman’s name. This reticence
is accounted for by a letter from Caroline Austen toller
brother (?i8 69), m which she wishes ‘that not any allusion
should be made to the Manydown story, or at least that the
reference should be so vague, as to give no clue to the place
or person’— on the ground that Mr. Wither’s children lived
m the neighbourhood, and that other neighbours would be
u-n°m’ ? U L the name has been given ’ e -S- b y Mi ss Constance
Hill (240). The reasons given for J. A.’s change of mind are
doubtless the true reasons ; but it may be added that the
gentleman was six years her junior and that his health seems
at the time to have been uncertain.
57, talobert is unexplained j it may be nonsense*
19* Fri. 17 May 1799
59. the children : Fanny and Edward (p. 68), so the three
little boys (p, 61) left at Godmersham were George. Henrv
and William. **
61* dirty quilts, dimity has been conjectured, but I hope
J. A. wrote dirty.
carpenters . I suspect that Mrs. W. Fowle had relations
named Carpenter .
62. prospective is obscure to me, but the picturesque writers
dealt much in prospects. The house has still a handsome
interior, but I could see no poplars from the windows.
20. Sun. 2 June 1799
64. Eliza : Fowle, no doubt.
65. Martha? $ uncle : probably Rev. John Craven, brother of
Martha’s mother; or possibly the husband of her mother’s
sister, Mrs. T. Fowle (see Index II).
[21-5
Notes
21. Tues. 11 June 1799
67. Fitzalbini : by Egerton Brydges.
68. Mr. Evelyn : of St. Clere, near Wrotham, Kent. George
Austen in 1775 wrote from Steventon: ‘Mr. Evelyn is going
to treat us with a plowing match in this neighbourhood . . .
Kent against Hants ... he sends for his own ploughman from
St. Clair.’
22. Wed. 19 June 1799
72. after all that had passed. See the note on Miss Pearson
p. 180.
Earlex Harwood.
23. Sat. 25 Oct. 1800
75. Heathcote dk Chute for ever : an election cry.
Catherine , . . Harris: Bigg-Wither.
76. a fireplace, Mr. A. H. Hallam Murray tells me that the
window is still there, but the fireplace has been removed.
24. Sat. 1 Nov. 1800
80. Mr. Peters seems to have been a clergyman at Tichborne
and later at Ovington. The Powlett correspondence contains
letters from Anne Powlett to her friend Miss Peters in Truro,
in which reference is frequently made to this clergyman, her
brother. A letter of 1 Nov. 1800 speaks of talk about him and
Miss Lyford ; but a later letter, 5 Aug. 1801, reports that
we have ceased to talk of your Brother and Miss Lyford’.
81. Mrs. Cooper may be the wife of J. A.’s first cousin,
but they are regularly Edward and Caroline ; I cannot find
any other Mrs. Cooper living. J. A. may mean her mother’s
only sister Jane Cooper, who had died in 1783 and was perhaps
too remote to be Aunt Jane (which besides would have been
ambiguous, since Mrs. Leigh Perrot was also Jane).
25. Sat. 8 Nov. 1800
82. Les Veillees: by Madame de Genlis.
our constant Table. I could not be sure whether J. A. wrote
our or one.
83. a Cutter. ‘Grand Falconer cutter, Lieutenant Chilcott,
25 - 7 ] Notes
from Marcou ’ is the only suitable arrival from Marcou men-
tioned in the Portsmouth Report (27 Oct.-23 Nov.) in Naval
Chronicle (1800* second part, p. 438),
85. Anna. I find from The History of the Hawtrey Family
(1903), p, 107, that Mary, daughter of Charles Hawtrey, Sub-
Dean of Exeter, married the Rev. J ohn Marshall, and that their
daughter Anna married ‘ Mr. Duller son to the Bishop of Exeter \
Harris : Bigg-Wither.
87. a Turkish ship . For Frank’s own account see Sailor
Brothers , 100.
26. Martha Lloyd. Wed. 12 Nov. 1800
88. Our invitations: for the Hurstbourne ball. Lord Ports-
mouth, when Lord Lymington and aged five, had been a pupil
at Steventon Rectory, His 4 eccentricities afterwards became
notorious’. Life 149.
hope at Manydown. The illness of both father and son has
been mentioned in earlier letters ; but they survived until 1813
and 1833 respectively,
89. Henry's History: published in six volumes quarto. The
portion for Saturday is ‘the history of the manners, virtues,
vices, remarkable customs, language, dress, diet and diversions
of the people’.
Mrs. Stent. ‘With Mrs, Lloyd lived to the last Mrs. Stent,
an earlier friend of rather inferior position in life, and reduced,
from family misfortunes, to very narrow means.’ Caroline
Austen’s Reminiscences.
27. Thur. 20 Nov. 1800
91. Rosalie. Mr. R. A. Austen-Leigh supplies a quotation
from a letter of Eliza de Feuillide (later Mrs. Henry Austen)
to her cousin Philadelphia Walter, Aug. 1788, asking her to
come to Tunbridge Wells for a ball and ‘accept half my bed.
You will have my apartment to dress in and Miss Rosalie will
be very happy to give you all the assistance she can,’ We may
guess that this Rosalie attracted Sir Thomas’s notice.
Warren . In Times Lit . Suppt. 7 May 1931 I threw some
light on Rev. Thomas Alston W., Rector of South Warn-
borough, Hants, and John Willing W., both of St, John’s,
Notes [ 27-8
Oxford, and both contributors to The Loiterer, the Oxford
periodical edited by James Austen ; and I suggested that the
Warren of this passage might be T. A. W. But I find that
Mrs. Bellas, in a note, identifies this W. as ‘Lt.-Col. W.’ and his
wife as a Maitland ; and the dates (see Index II) and connexion
with General Mathew make this certain. I still identify the
Colonel’s cousin, the familiar ‘Warren’ of the early letters, as
J. W. W. ; but cannot be sure of p. 46.
Anne: the first Mrs. James Austen.
92. the General: General Mathew, Mrs. Maitland’s father.
93. reconciled . The MS. is mutilated; Lord Brabourne
prints resigned, but it was a long word, and the third letter
looks like c.
Lucy: Lefroy,
Mrs. Augusta: Bramstone; who, asked her opinion of
Mansfield Park, ‘owned that she thought S. & S. and P. & P.
downright nonsense, but expected to like MP. better, & having
finished the 1st vol. flattered herself she had got through the
worst’. (Opinions.)
94. George: perhaps Edward’s little boy; but there is an
obscure George on p, 11.
1 -yoo Atkmsons Of Bn.., probably Enham, cf. p. 91. In Nov.
* „ Af was J ust short °f seventeen, and perhaps it was her
first Hurstbourne ball’.
95. Lady S & S : Saye and Sele. In a letter from Mrs.
usten to Mrs. J. A. written from Stoneleigh 13 Aug. 1806
(Lefroy MS.) I find: ‘Poor Lady Saye & Sele to be sure is
rather tormenting, tho’ sometimes amusing, and affords Jane
many a good laugh.’
28. Sun. 80 Nov. 1800
like M n Hastings: probably the wife of Warren Hastings ;
see Index II for other references, and, for the family connexion.
Life, ch. S. I have no clue to the faithful Maria; but Mrs.
Hastings s name was Marian.
the Shrewsbury Clock : I Henry IV, Act V, Scene iv.
97. the Eldest daughter. J. A. is herself strict in observing
this and similar rules ; in writing to her niece Anna she always
28 - 30 ] Notes
calls her husband ‘Mr* Ben Lefroy because he had an elder
brother. So in Mansfield Park Edmund is usually 6 Mr. Edmund
Bertram’, even in his presence and in Tom’s absence. There are
some exceptions in the letters ; ‘Mrs. H. Digweed ’ is sometimes
‘Mrs. Digweed’ ; but of that there may be an explanation,
98.
Delman is my misreading of Delmar. The Canterbury
Librarian sends me a notice (Kentish Gazette , 4 Nov, 1800) of
4 A Ball at Delmar’s Rooms’, the first of a series, to be held on
6 Nov. The subscription for six balls was a guinea.
29 . Sat 3 Jan . 1801
99. Miss Lloyd occurs also on pp. 142, 225, 235, 299, 357
(Floyd, see note), 412, 482, 495. In each place the context
makes it natural that Martha Lloyd should be so styled. (At
225 J. A. is quoting the boys.)
101. Mr. Nibbs: not identified, and perhaps not the name
of a real artist. But see Addenda after Index VIII#
102. Miss Foote is no doubt Harriet, younger sister of the
reigning Lady Bridges; she became Mrs, Edward Bridges in
1809. Her cousin Frederick I have not identified.
103. The threatened Act of Parliament The reference is
probably (as Prof. Veitch suggests) to one of the measures pro-
posed to meet the distress of the winter of 1800-1. One of these
was the fixing of a maximum price of ten shillings a bushel for
wheat. This was proposed by Lord Warwick, but met with
vigorous opposition, (Part Hist . xxxv. 833-5.)
30 . Thur . 8 Jan . 1801
105. Peter . Black Peter is the knave of spades, in a childish
card game so called.
actually erected . Egerton Brydges was Mrs. Lefroy’s
brother. In his Autobiography (1834, i. 137) he states that
4 when I first married, in 1786, 1 hired a small parsonage-house
in the parish adjoining’ Ashe. This was no doubt Deane
Parsonage, later occupied by Mrs. Lloyd.
106, the Farm : probably Cheesedown.
Mrs . Laurel . This passage is perhaps hopelessly ob-
scure. Sir William Foster has probably identified the rich
Notes
[80-2
East Indian (see Index II). But since this proof may be either
the wedding or the arrival of the letter which announced it,
there is ample room for conjecture. I think Mary is Mrs. James
Austen (who was given to self-torment), not Mary Cooke.
Mr. R. A. Austen-Leigh reminds me that one of Mrs. Lloyd’s
(Mrs. J. A.’s mother) sisters, nie Craven, made a misalliance
with one Hinxman (so spelled in the Lefroy MS.), and suggests
that J. A. may be jocularly identifying the two H.’s. The
Cravens lived in Berkshire, so Wantage Downs is suitable.
The wedding-day. James and Mary’s.
Fulwar, Eliza: Fowle.
107. Hugh Capet and Mr. Skipsey: the former, I suppose,
a horse; Mr. S. I do not recognize, but he may be a horse too.
81. Wed. 14 Jan. 1801
111. singing Duetts with the Prince of Wales. The Morning
Post 12 Jan. reports ‘H.R.H. . . . now on a visit to Sir Hy.
Featherstonhaugh in Hampshire .... a large party . . . sports
of the held’. Sir Henry lived at Up Park, which is in Sussex,
but very near the Hampshire border. Sir Alfred Welby tells
me that he has a recollection of hearing that his ancestress
was musical. See also 72, note on p. 280.
Major Byng. Times, 13 Jan. 1801:
‘We are extremely sorry to learn, by private letters re-
ceived yesterday, the confirmation of the death of Mr. Byng,
a cousin of Mr. Wickham, who was killed in the battle of the
14th near Salzburg. This gentleman was a Volunteer in the
Austrian service’, &c.
No previous notice has been found, and the Christian name is
not given. The Times notice suggests that Mr. B. was not a
member of the Torrington family ; the only Edmund of that
family who can be found died in 1854.
32. Wed. 21 Jan. 1801
115. Caroline: Cooper.
Mrs. G. : Girle.
the Square: Queen’s Square.
J. D. : James Digweed.
Notes
t v r* _ _ ^ ^ or a game? If a book, probably
(as Miss M. Hope Dodds suggests) The Governess ; or Evening
Amusements at a Boarding-School (anon., 1800)
34. Wed. 11 Feb. 1801
119. 24 Upper Berkeley Street : it is clear, from the references
on pp. 118, 120, and 121, that Cassandra was stay ing with
Henry at this address ; p. 121 is the first mention of his
keeping a carriage.
120. their Royal Passenger : the Duke of Sussex.
121. Cath: Bigg.
Sunday -chaise : not explained.
35, Tues . 5 May 1801
123. Gloucestershire : Life 166, 373. The visit was perhaps to
the Fowles at Elkstone, near Cheltenham. A visit to AdlestroD
is an alternative. P
36. Tues . 12 May 1801
126. Mary: Mrs. J. A.; Frank’s Mary does not come on the
scene for five years.
37. Thur. 21 May 1801
131, Weston: ‘The Promenade to Weston; the Hyde-Park,
or Kensington- Gardens, of Bath , . . attractive from the short-
ness of its distance, which does not exceed a mile and a half. . . .
At the bottom of Sioti-Hill . . . the Village of Weston . . . which
is occupied by numerous laundresses, has altogether a superior
appearance. . . . The Church is a small erection; but the
numerous monuments in its Burying- Ground are highly attrac-
tive and interesting. . , . The visitor . . . can diversify the scene
by turning off into Barton's Fields' Egan, Walks through Bath ,
1819,
132. an absurd pretension. But Mrs, Allen noted with ap-
proval that ‘Miss Tilney always wears white’. Northanger
Abbey , ch. 12.
38. Tues . 26 May 1801
134. the Harrison family , This obscure allusion may be con-
nected with the reference to Mary Harrison on p. 13.
Notes
[88-9
136. Now this, says My Master suggests a quotation from
Mrs. Piozzi (cf. p, 66), but it does not seem to be in her John-
sonian writings.
137. particularly scrupulous. Perhaps because the Evelyns
seem to be involved in the Twistleton scandal (p. 127) and
because the Leighs of Stoneleigh were connected with the
Twistletons.
Topaze crosses: now, alas, in America, but in good hands.
There is a picture of them in Sailor Brothers. They are no
doubt the archetype of the amber cross in Mansfield Park.
39 . Fri. 14 Sept. 1804
138. the Royal Family. Mr. C. Wanklyn sends me this from
the Western Flying Post for 10 Sept. :
‘Weymouth Sept. 8th. Arrived here this town’s original
patron, his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester on a
visit to the Royal Family, all of whom, we are happy to
observe, enjoy good health and spirits. The King rises very
early and visits the camps before breakfast, then embarks
with the family for a cruise in the Royal Sovereign yacht,
attended by the two others, the frigates, and a fleet of
yachts of every description, returns to an evening parade
and lastly visits the theatre. This is making the most of
his time. The town was never known to be fuller of company
than this season, since the Royal Family has been here.’
The Morning Post describes the embarkation of Tuesday:
‘Weymouth Sept. 11. At half-past ten the Royal Family
left the Lodge, and went to the shore in their carriages, when
two boats were waiting to receive them, and convey them on
board the Royal Yacht.’
139. last evening. Cf.p.l 42, yestermorning. Mr. Peter Debary
seems to have been a purist.
Le Chevalier : not identified.
140. uncle Tobi/s annuity : Tristram Shandy , iii. 22.
141. their infamous plate: on No. 4 Sydney Place, which the
Austens left (for Green Park Buildings) in Jan. 1805 See
Index II, s.v. Cole.
142. yester-mormng. J. A. uses yester morn in Persuasion,
39 - 45 ] Notes
ch. 13 (p. 126 of my edition). But I suspect that she there wrote
morn* as was her custom, and that morn is a printer’s error.
Fraser. The word is I think more like Leaver or Feaver.
Manhood : reading uncertain. Hooper : Holder.
40. Francis Austen . Mon . 21 Jan , 1805
145. Brompton . Henry lived from 1805 to 1809 at 10
St. Michael’s-plaee, Brompton.
43. Mon. 8 Apr . 1805
148. Miss Lefroy: probably (in spite of the formality) Lucy
L., now Mrs. Henry Rice.
149. her end. Mrs. Lloyd died 16 Apr.
152. The Wallop race. This is a flight of fancy, as Mr.
Horrocks pointed out. Many of the ladies of the Portsmouth
family were Camilla or Urania; and the ships so named
reminded J. A. of this.
153. Expedition: a forty-four, built at Chatham 1784.
44. Sun. 21 Apr . 1805
156. Bickerton and Amelia (157), and their connexion with
Fulwar-William (Fowle), are obscure. There was a Bickerton
family at Chawton; Richard B., 1816-54, and his wife Sophia
are buried in Chawton churchyard.
157. the famous Saunders. I have not traced this author,
who may be fabulous.
158. Lady Roden . Why J. A. should with great justice be
guessed to have visited this lady I do not know; but Robert
Jocelyn, the second earl, married as his second wife a Northum-
berland Orde; and J. A. was acquainted with Lord Bolton
(a Northumberland Orde by origin) and with other Hampshire
Ordes, Powletts, and Orde-Powletts. The Powlett corre-
spondence shows that a son of Lord R. was or might have been
Charles Powlett ’s pupil.
45. Sat. 24 Aug. 1805
160. Harriot: Bridges.
161. Palmer stone was perhaps derived from Letters from
Mrs. Palmerstone to her Daughters , inculcating Morality by
Notes [45-8
Entertaining Narratives, 1808, by Mrs. Rachel Hunter (whom
J. A. is known to have laughed at, see p. 406 and note).
168. Henry's picture of Rowling. There is no other allusion
to H. as an artist, and it is just possible that the picture was
by Henry Bridges; but Henry Austen seems to have been
staying at Godmersham (161, 162). I suppose that Daniel,
the Godmersham coachman, drove him as far as Ospringe,
where he caught a London coach. He may, however, have
gone not to London but to Goodnestone, see 166. See notes
on pp. 11, 219,
46. Tues. 27 Aug. 1805
166. Sophie : probably Deedes.
John: Bridges.
Henry: the same ambiguity as on 168. Henry Bridges
would be more likely than Henry Austen to pronounce on
Marianne’s symptoms.
47. Fri. 80 Aug. 1805
169. the evil intentions of the Guards. Sir John Fortescuc
tells me that on Friday, 30 Aug. (partridge-shooting began on
the Monday following) the First and Second Grenadier Guards
marched from Deal for Chatham, the First Coldstreams and
First Scots Guards from Chatham for Deal. A movement on
such a scale might well disturb the birds; and Mr. Edward
Bridges may have apprehended that (in spite of the efforts of
their officers) some of the men might do a bit of poaching.
Yet (Sir John adds) the danger of invasion was only just past.
Napoleon’s orders for the march from Boulogne to the Danube
were not issued until 22 August, and the camp at Boulogne was
not finally evacuated until that same fateful 30 August.’
48. Wed. 7 Jan. 1807
171. our guests: apparently James (occasionally) and his
wife and daughter (Caroline) and Frank and his wife. (But
Frank and Mary were perhaps sharing Mrs. Austen’s lodgings.)
172. Mrs. Foote's baby's name. J. A. had forgotten that
Captain Foote had already a Caroline — a daughter by his first
wife. He was first cousin of John Foote, banker of London,
father of the three sisters, Eleanor, Harriet, and Lucy, two of
N n
48 - 9 ]
Notes
whom married Bridges brothers. This explains Fanny's
interest. J
the Williams : Sir Thomas and Lady W.
173. Alphonsine : by Madame de Geniis.
the ‘Female Quixotte ’ ; by Charlotte Lennox.
the family treaty : a financial arrangement between Mr.
Leigh Perrot and the Adlestrop Leighs; see 177, ‘my Uncle’s
Business’; 182, ‘the negotiation between them & Adlestrop’,
207 ‘Business’, 232 ‘the Stoneleigh business’, 316 ‘vile com-
promise’, and Life 195.
Mrs . K , : Knight.
49. Sun. 8 Feb. 1807
176. Queen Mary's Lamentation . J. A. perhaps got her
knowledge from Goldsmith’s History of England (4 vols,, 1771),
her own copy of which has been preserved (Life 29 ; Keynes,
Bibliography 274). See ii. 85 : ‘The unhappy princess continued
her lamentations ; but being informed of his (Rizzio’s) fate, at
once dried her tears, and said she would weep no more, for she
would now think of revenge.’ But there are other possibilities.
to see Peter Deb ary. Caroline Austen in her Reminiscences
records a longer visit in May 1815: ‘We visited the Debarys at
Eversley. His sister lived with him. We were there Sunday
18 June’ (i.e. for Waterloo).
178. Our Garden : in Castle Square.
Cowpefs Line : The Task , vi. 150:
Laburnum, rich
In streaming gold ; syringa, iv’ry pure.
the Castle : see the account of this eccentric building and
its eccentric owner in Memoir . His portrait at Bowood shows
a mild man, and has nautical accessories.
Catherine : Foote.
179. Mrs. W. K Wyndham Knatchbull.
Hastings : no doubt Warren Hastings ; Henry Egerton was
an acquaintance of his protegee Mrs. Henry Austen,
180. the only Family . . . whom we cannot visit . I have little
doubt that the cause of this unluckiness was a youthful indis-
Notes
[ 49-50
cretion not of Frank, but of Henry Austen. The references in
3, 6, and 7 (pp. 7, 9, 15, 16, 18) suggest that Henry was in
170() either engaged, or thought likely to be engaged, to Miss
Pearson, See p. 72, ‘after all that had passed’, and Index II,
s.v, Pearson, for other references.
M* Duval : Evelina , vol. ii, Letter 3, ‘Of all the unlucki-
nesses that ever I met, this is the worst!’
Edward : Edward Austen’s eldest boy.
Clarentine: by Sarah Burney,
Miss Harrison : presumably d. of John Butler H. II.
Mrs* Dusautoy (not Dusantoy or Durantoy as in Bra-
bourne): probably a Huguenot family. Members of the family
were in trade in Hants, and it might be Louis D., teacher of
French in Southampton, who took lodgers (p. 252). But a
James D. of Winchester, Lt. of Marines, m. 1793 Mary Hinton
of Chawton. The Hintons were connected with the Southamp-
ton Harrisons. This Mrs. D. may be ours, and the Misses D.
of p. 391 her daughters. Mrs. James D. died at Taunton 1851,
and I find a Rev, Frederic D. near Crewkerne. Taunton and
Crewkerne are not far from Devonshire.
181. Sir Thor. Williams.
Mary : Mrs. F. A.
like my dear Dr. Johnson: See Johnson’s letter to Boswell
4 July 1774.
50. Fri. 20 Feb. 1807
182. M r Austen . . . Mr. M v Austen : John A. of Broadford
and Francis Motley A. of Kippington.
Mary: Mrs. F. A.
184. the l u Lord: Thomas Grenville,
185. poor Mr. Sharpe. For Samuel Sharp’s controversy
with Baretti see Index V. The sisters’ sustained interest in this
ancient quarrel invites explanation; and Mr. E. G. Bayford
ingeniously suggests a connexion with their friend Ann Sharp,
the governess at Godmersham. Samuel Sharp was a man of
some note (see ZL.V.B,); but not much is known of his private
50 - 1 ] Notes
life. Baretti mentions that in 1765 he was accompanied in
Italy by three young ladies, which looks like daughters. But
if this Samuel Sharp, who died 24 March 1778, may be identified
with Samuel Sharp of the Circus, Bath, whose will was proved
on 4 Apr. 1778, his daughters were Eleanor and Frances, not
Ann; and Sharp was too rich to have a governess daughter.
There remains a possibility of a remoter relationship. (A Miss
Sharpe of Bath is mentioned p. 157).
For further fact and speculation about Ann Sharp see
Doncaster Gazette 9 Apr. (Mr. Bayford), Times, 12 Feb., and
Notes and Queries, 27 Feb. 1926.
William i Fowle.
remedy : a holiday at Winchester, regularly ‘asked’ and
granted on a Tuesday,
her Sister : Mrs. J. A. (not Mrs, Fowle).
Lady B.i Sir Brook’s first wife, who died in 1806 leaving
three children. Sir Brook did not accept the nomination
suggested, though he did marry again.
51 . Wed. 15 June 1808
187 . Our two brothers . A coach left the Cross Keys, Grace-
church-street, daily at 5 a.m, and completed the journey to
Dover (71 miles by this route) in 15 hours. So James would
reach Canterbury (55 m.) in under 12 hours, and might well
be at Godmersham before the carriage party.
since last year . Fanny Knight’s diary shows that in Sept.
1807 ‘grandmamma and Aunts Cassandra and Jane Austen’
paid a visit to Chawton House ( Braboume , ii. 116).
188. John: Bridges.
little Edward : James’s boy James Edward, who was not
yet ten years old; distinguished from his cousin of fourteen
(Edward below). Little Edward is usually Edward’s son, but
on p. 68 must be James’s.
at that time . A child was bom in September.
189. their carriage : doubtless a chaise, which held three
people without much to spare. On this occasion it conveyed
the two ladies and two children (the child of three is James’s
Notes [51
younger d. Caroline), unless, indeed, James Edward accompanied
his father by coach.
the Temple Plantations. The Vicar of Godinershain tells
me that in the ‘wilderness 1 is a small building called the
Temple— one of the places in which ‘ Jane Austen is supposed
to have written \
190. Harriot : Bridges, who became Mrs. Moore in 1806.
Mary. Mrs. F. A.
Huxham : from John H., physician, 1692-1768, whose
tincture of cinchona bark is in the British Pharmacopoeia.
An advertisement ( London Chronicle, 31 Dec. 1807) of New-
bery and Sons, proprietors of Dr. James’s Powder, includes
‘Huxham’s Tinct. of Bark’.
191. Louisa in the first and third paragraphs is L. Bridges
in the last the little girl.
Mr. Jefferson's case. I cannot connect William Jefferson
(see Index V) with the Austens ; but Watt (Bibliotheca Britan -
nica) mentions a Joseph J., dissenting minister at Basingstoke,
who might perhaps be W. J.’s father
Miss Austen\ Harriet Lennard A.
Miss Maria : Cuthbert.
Mrs. Inman is said by Lord Braboume (i. 338) to have
been ‘ the aged widow of a former clergyman at Godmersham ’ ;
but the present vicar can trace no such clergyman, and the
inscription on Rebecca Inman’s tomb rather suggests a spinster.
in the Palace. I do not know how Sacree got there;
Mrs. Edward Austen cannot have been present (Brook John
was bom in September) and I cannot find among the ladies
at court any on whom Sacree would naturally be in attendance.
Perhaps she was there by favour of Mrs. Charles Feilding, who
was related to the Goodnestone family and was an inmate of
the Palace.
192. my brother James, ‘my brother’ is regular, but this
sounds formal. I imagine that J. A. wrote ‘my brother’ and
then added James’ to avoid ambiguity.
the nature of the road. I suppose there was no coach.
Bookham is on the London-Farnham road by Leatherhead;
51 - 3 ] Notes
but James’s natural route to Farnham (and so to Basingstoke
and Steventon) would be direct by Maidstone. See p, 203.
52. Mon. 20 June 1808
193. Mary Jane : Frank’s little girl, then at Southampton.
Caroline : possibly Hales (Mrs. Gore).
Edward Ju n : Edward’s boy, not James Edward; see
p. 199.
194. Her very agreeable present: Mrs. Knight’s ‘fee’.
195. James-Edward. James; Edward in Brabourne. But
J. A. wrote James :Edward, using a colon where we use a
hyphen.
the Dean : Powys.
on Tuesday : of the following week. Since Louisa Bridges
‘goes home on Friday’, she would be ‘from Goodnestone’ on
the succeeding Tuesday.
197. It seems probable that the Mr. Lyford who attended
the Austens in 1808 was the Basingstoke, not the Winchester
surgeon ; see pp. 210, 217.
bad pens. I have ascertained that J. A. wrote pens,
not puns.
a sad story. The scandal cannot be found in the London
Courier, but see Morning Post, 18 and 21 June 1808. ‘Another
elopement has taken place in high life. A Noble Viscount,
Lord S., has gone off with a Mrs. P., the wife of a relative of
a Noble Marquis’ [of Winchester]. ‘Mrs. P.’s faux pas with
Lord S e took place at an inn near Winchester.’ Col. P.
was awarded £3,000 damages. See Mansfield Park, ch. 46
(p. 440 of my edition).
198. her duty. Mrs. Knight was perhaps James Edward’s
godmother.
53. Sun. 26 June 1808
199. young Edward here means Edward’s son, not James
Edward, who was not yet at Winchester.
our Friends : probably the Biggs, see p. 194 ; why secrecy
was needed does not appear.
201 . Mrs. M of Nackington : Milles,
Notes
[58-4
Mrs . Moore's. I conjecture that Mrs. M. of the Oaks was
the Archbishop’s widow and mother of the Rector of Wrotham.
This would explain Harriot M.’s presence in Canterbury.
Ly . Knatchbull & her Mother : Mrs. Hawkins.
must keep it two . Perhaps letters were not sent to the post
from Godmersham every day.
202. into Somersetshire . The Knatchbulls lived at Babing-
ton, which is about 5 miles north of Shepton Mallet on the
Bath road. Thus it would be natural for them to leave the
coast-road either at Fare ham (for Winchester) or at Southamp-
ton (for Salisbury),
203. her namesake : Mrs. F. A.
to pass the door at Seale. The Walters lived at Seale.
54. Thur. 30 June 1808
204. a silver knife may remind us of Mary Price’s silver knife
in Mansfield Park , ‘the gift of her good godmother, old Mrs.
Admiral Maxwell’. Did Anna Austen furnish a hint for the
character of Susan Price ?
205. glad to go home . ‘I remember the Godmersham visit
well in many little points, and I don’t think I was very happy
there in a strange house. I recollect the model of a ship in a
passage and my cousins’ rabbits out of doors, in or near a long
walk of high trees. I have been told it was the limestone path.
I never visited the place again.’ — Caroline Austen’s Reminis-
cences. There is no mistaking the ‘long walk of high trees’ — a
very narrow avenue of very tall limes, in the ‘wilderness’.
But the Vicar tells me that the term limestone is not used
locally to describe the local limestones ; if the path was named
from its materials it would be the ‘chalk path’, or the ‘rag
path’. Probably, therefore, ‘limestone path’ is a mistake for
‘lime path’ or ‘lime walk’.
206. Fanny Austen's Match : with Capt. Holcroft, R.A. ; why
this was misconduct is unknown.
207. Business . See note on 173.
Smalbone : ‘My Father and Mother, taking my Brother
and myself and Mary Smallbone who lived with us, went to
Godmersham’ (Caroline Austen’s Reminiscences , 1808).
54 - 6 ]
Notes
Mrs. Hastings' 1 voyage down the Ganges. Mr. p E RnJiPrto
that afa fa the ^ of 178 « *££?£%*
far as Patna. See Letters of W. H. to his Wife, ed. S. C. Grier,
208. Mrs . D. : Deedes. .
209. the pleasures of Friendship , &c., seems to point to a
arger circle than the normal household in Castle Square • see
note on our Friends, p. 199. 4 ’ e
55. bun. 1 Oct. 1808
210. who the Godmother is to he remains unsolved.
guessing the names . I do not know how Mrs. A. guessed
rook John’s first name; but the second was perhaps obvious
since the child’s elder maternal uncles— Sir Brook William
^ rook Henry , and Brook Edward— already had namesakes in
his brothers. Perhaps, again, since Edward Junior could not
be regarded as named after his uncle of that name (since it was
also his father’s), Brook J ohn was intended in compliment both
to Brook Edward and to Brook John .
Eliza. There are two Elizas on this page. The first is a
Maitland, the second, no doubt, Henry Austen’s wife.
212. if we ever have another garden here does not imply that
there was none in Castle Square (it was ‘the best in the Town’,
p. 184), but that the Austens had decided to leave their house
but had not decided whether to have another in Southampton
or to go elsewhere.
something perfectly unexceptionable . , . through him . Henry’s
bank had an Alton branch, and his geese were apt to be swans.
Yarmouth Division : Frank and his wife.
Espriella : by Southey.
Miss B . : Bailey.
218. my little Goddaughter : Louisa Austen.
The Marquis : of Lansdowne. He put it off too long, for
he died in 1809.
56 . Fri. 7 Oct. 1808
214. your Winchester Correspondent : Edward junior, or pos-
sibly his brother George ; a very proper day , being his father’s
birthday*
Notes [ 56-8
his 30 th year is what J. A. wrote. Either she made a slip
(for he was 40) or it is a joke.
215. Eliza: a maid.
Mrs. 23. K.: I can think of nothing better than (Sir)
Edward Knatchbull’s first wife, who did not die until 1814.
But see Index II (1949).
216. those at Lyme . I learn from C. Wanklyn’s Lyme Regis ,
a Retrospect (second ed. 1927) that this is probably a reference
to a big fire at L. on 5 Nov. 1803. If so, we can account for the
family ‘rambles’ in each of the years 1801-4.
my two companions : her mother and Martha (see 215).
217. the three boys : Edward and George Austen and William
Fowle.
Harriot : Moore.
her son Edward's 4 invitation’ may possibly, as Mr. Austen-
Leigh suggests, have been an offer of marriage. The tone of
p. 231 does not preclude the possibility.
218. Catherine : Bigg, now Mrs. Hill.
Miss Foote : Caroline.
to do with her is what J. A. wrote, but she perhaps intended
without.
57. Thur. 13 Oct . 1808
219. Henry : the same uncertainty as is considered in notes
on pp. 11, 163, 166. The reference to anguish (220) rather
a brother than a brother-in-law | and on p. 223 Henry
is coupled with John Bridges. But 224 makes it clear that
Henry Austen was at Godmersham, for Kintbury would not
send apples to a Bridges (and cf. 244, his first return to God-
mersham, i.e. since Elizabeth’s death), and therefore his grief
must be mentioned; and there is no reason to suppose that
Henry Bridges was in Kent at the time. Henry Austen was
of a mercurial temperament, and probably more demonstra-
tive than his brothers and sisters.
58. Sat . 15 Oct . 1808; see Addenda
223. Henry and John. See note on p. 219.
to Edward , about their mourning : presumably Edward son
of Edward, for J. A. would hardly write to James Edward,
58 - 0 ]
Notes
then under his own mother’s roof, about his mourning On
the other hand the next sentence might suggest that
ntphm i may be James Edward. The pom %s «e, of couS
dward s boys (Edward and George), who had been taken
from Winchester to Steventon on the news of their mother’s
QcSXIlt
% T the ReV * Thomas FowIe elder d.
186 ;“ d ^^ predeceased him 1798, the references 1808
and 1815 to Mr. or Mrs . F. must mean the Fulwar and Eliza
of earlier letters. J. A.’s tone does not, however, suggest any
d “ t ‘°“ of * ien <Uiness. Fulwar on his father’s death su*
ceeded to the dignity of ‘Mr. Fowle’, as head of this family
and Eliza ’ may have been avoided as (until Henry Austen’s
wife’s death 1818) ambiguous.
It appears from a letter of Charles Austen, 24 Dec. 1809
(printed in Sailor Brothers, 209), that Tom Fowle (not Fowler
as there printed) was on board his ship. This explains Mr. F ’s
consigning charts to the care of the Palmers (Mrs. Charles
Austen’s family).
59. Mon . 24 Oct 1808
The italics in this letter (as printed in Brabourne) represent,
I think, underlining by another hand— perhaps Fanny Knight’s.
225. Mr. Wise: ‘old Wyse, a civil, respectful mannered,
elderly man, exceedingly fond of hunting, who drove Roger’s
coach every day, Sundays excepted, from Southampton to
Popham Lane in the morning, and back to Southampton in
the afternoon. He arrived at the Flower Pots, Popham Lane,
soon after ten o’clock, and left it between three and four.’
Vine Hunt, 66.
Miss Lloyd can only be Martha ; J. A. is quoting the boys.
226. poor Catherine: Bigg, see 222, 228.
Fanny's letter must have betrayed knowledge of the in-
tended move. This proposal is Edward’s offer of the cottage
at Chawton,
227. Their amt: Mrs. J. A.
228. Lake of Killarney : by Anna Maria Porter.
noonshine: moonshine in Brabourne, but cf. 195.
Notes
[59-01
229. summer evenings . See 226, quite the evening . I imagine
Edward’s kind consideration was an instruction that the boys
should travel post.
60 . Sun . 21 Nov . 1808
231. John and Lucy . Their marriage (it did not take place)
would have been a third Bridges-Foote match.
for Edward's Manservant I suppose so that Edward might
pay occasional visits to the Cottage when he did not wish to
open the Great House.
Alethea : Bigg.
232. the Stoneleigh business. See note on 173.
Chambers . A letter from Mrs. Leigh Perrot of 10 Nov.
1799, printed in Notes and Queries for Somerset and Dorset ,
Sept. 1924, p. 59, contains this passage: ‘My Maid is a Welsh
Woman. . . . Had my poor old quiet Chambers been living she
would have been a real Comfort to me.’ There may have been
a second Chambers ; but Mrs. L. P. was capable of repining for
more than nine years.
233. Our Brother : presumably James.
234. Mary Jane : Frank’s daughter, left behind when (288)
‘Frank and Mary left us’.
61. Fri. 9 Dec . 1808
285. Mrs. Piozzi: Letters to and from the late Samuel Johnson
(1788), i. 270; the quotation is substantially accurate.
a lately made Admiral : Thomas Bertie.
our Connections in West Kent : Austens of Broadford and
elsewhere.
236. I will marry Mr. Papillon : the joke is repeated eight
years later, p. 469.
237. Sir Robert : Sloper.
238. Conscientious refusal. The living of Hampstead Marshall
fell vacant in 1806 by the death of Rev. Thomas Fowle, who,
though he lived at Kintbury VicaTage after resigning that
living to his son in 1798, retained the smaller living of Hamp-
stead and did duty there up to his death. The patron, Lord
Craven, asked James Austen to hold the living ‘for some years,
61-3]
Notes
until the young man for whom it was designed should be of age
to take it James refused the living, ‘not from any fear that
he should be tempted to retain it dishonestly, but solely on
account of the words which must be used in accepting it. He
d not think the arrangement simoniacal in spirit ; but there
stood the ugly word’ (Caroline Austen’s Reminiscences).
the 4* of Sepf. This precision, so far ahead, is perhaps
jocular; but if Edward took his boys back to school he might
visit Chawton on the day named. The ‘election’ (i.e. summer)
holidays in 1809 ended before the 1st of September.
62. Tues. 27 Dec. 1808
289. the party : probably Mr. and Mrs. J. A.
240. Eliza : a maid.
Sir B. : Sir Brook Bridges.
241. black butter . Mr. F. C. Bell, writing in The Times of
8 Feb. 1930, thanks correspondents who had sent him ‘recipes
for apple butter’. He adds that ‘this simple, uncostly, and
delightful conserve’ is in the Channel Islands ‘called black
butter, and has been known there for centuries’.
Miss Austen : probably C. E. A. (quoted from Eliza), not
Miss A. of Southampton.
his godson : James Edward.
242. Bermuda: Charles and his family.
a day of sad remembrance . Edward was married on 27 Dec
1791.
the boarding-house : kept, as Mr. Horrocks told me, by
Mrs. B. Kelly at 17 High-street.
Corinna : by Madame de Stael.
244. Eliza : Mrs. Henry A.
boast no longer . See p. 184.
your godmother: Mrs. E. Leigh.
63, Tues . 10 Jan . 1809; see Addenda
245. Mary : Mrs. F. A.
246. The i Regency \ Prof. Trevelyan tells me that this must
refer to some rumour about the King’s health ; the expected
regency became fact in 1810.
Notes [ 68-5
distinguished kindness seems an odd phrase. Did J. A.
perhaps write distinguishing ?
from one quarter : I suppose Paragon.
247. Uncle John*, Bridges.
248. The American lady . J. A. doubtless wrote Lady . See
Index V, s.v. Grant. Lord Brabourne’s paragraphing is mis-
leading ; the report of the letter from Paragon ends at mentioned ;
what follows relates to family reading.
Margiana , or Widdrington Tower : by Mrs. S. Sykes
(Minerva Press, five volumes, 1808).
very generous. The first edition of Marmion , in quarto,
cost 31s. 6cf., but several octavo editions appeared in 1808, so
we need not suppose that J. A. laid out more than 12s.
249. many happy returns : of C. E. A.’s birthday, 9 Jan. 1778.
64. Tues. 17 Jan . 1809
250. her new Aunt: Mrs. Brownlow Mathew.
251. Mrs. Esten: the wife of James Christie Esten, Chief
Justice of Bermuda ; his j
II
other was a Palmer, and so connected
with Charles Austen’s wife (C. A.’s e.d. was Cassandra Esten).
William and Mary Jane : Fowle.
Ida of Athens and Irish Girl: by Sydney Owenson (Lady
Morgan).
252. Miss M. conveys: I suppose Miss Murden, in the basket
mentioned 250.
Alas! poor Brag . See 247.
253. Mrs . H v D.: Digweed. I have not discovered the name
of ‘the next’ (if any).
The Queen's Birthday fell on 19 May, but in 1809 (and
always?) was celebrated on 18 Jan. ( London Gazette ).
Mr. Austen and Capt . Harwood: James A. and Earle H.,
see 250.
65. Tues . 24 Jan . 1809
254. Miss Beverley s. Miss B. is the heroine of Cecilia ,
255. a small prize . ‘In 1808 the Indian , Charles Austen’s
ship, captured La Jeune Estelle , a small privateer.’ Sailor
Brothers , 207.
4
65 - 6 ] Notes
a final e. I have seen letters of C. E. A. which show her
fondness for final e.
Mary : Cooke.
yesterday : her birthday, 23 Jan. 1793.
256. Caleb. See p. 259.
Propria que Maribus: from the Eton Latin Grammar:
Propria quae maribus tribuuntur, mascula dicas ;
ut sunt Divorum ; Mars, Bacchus, Apollo— &c.
Miss C. : presumably Curling, cousin of Mrs. F. A. See
245.
257. Mother. J. A. invariably writes ‘my Mother’, and no
doubt regarded ‘Mother’ as a vulgarism.
deputed by Capt. Smith. See 253.
the complacency of her Mama. There is no mention of a
Mrs. Hammond in this matter of the ball ; he was evidently
a bachelor.
258. Dr. M.x Mant.
such a son : Sir John Moore.
The Portsmouth paper: Hampshire Telegraph , 23 Jan. 1809.
66. Mon. 30 Jan. 1809
259. Cortebs : Hannah More’s Codebs in Search of a Wife .
260. Mrs . E. L. : Leigh.
261. Miss B presumably Bailey.
Your plan for Miss Curling : perhaps that she should
accompany Edward, who may have intended a visit to Chawton
or Winchester.
Aunt Fanny . If 4 the Fire ’ is Caroline Cooper’s escape (260),
Aunt Fanny should be a relation of that family. But if a
Kentish fire, she would be Fanny Cage.
Sir J. Moore. See p. 258. I think ‘no one nearer than
Sir John himself’ implies some family connexion; but some
take the meaning to be that there was no connexion. None has
been traced. A good deal is known of Deacon Morrell, but
nothing of his relations with his mother.
Miss C. L. Thomson ( Jane Austen f a Survey , 1929, p. 275)
i
Notes [66-8
thinks the reference to Christian and Hero ‘not only conven-
tional, but an offence against good taste’. But we do not know
all that was in J. A.’s mind. Sir Charles Oman writes :
‘What Jane was thinking of with regard to Sir John’s
deathbed — of which a rather full narrative survives — was
that he is reported to have said nothing about God and the
other world, but a good deal about public opinion in England,
and his hope that it would acquit him ; as well as some mes-
sages to Lady Hester Stanhope and other friends in London.
I think she was hinting that it was not a very “Christian”
end , and that her words have no farther meaning.’ Miss Las-
celles suggests a reminiscence of Rambler 44|(Elizabeth Carter):
The Christian and the hero are inseparable’.
262. Mrs. Seward being Edward Austen’s tenant, any appli-
cation to her would naturally be made through Godmershara.
the Child : I suppose Frank’s Mary Jane.
67. Crosbie & Co. Wed. 5 Apr. 1809
For a full account of the transaction see the Life, or my
edition of Northanger Abbey.
particular circumstances. They did not reach Chawton until
the end of July , and manuscripts would not accompany J, A.
on visits.
68. Francis Austen. Wed. 26 July 1809
Since my text was printed off, extracts from this letter have
appeared in The Times (16 Dec. 1930). Caroline Austen’s
Reminiscences record that the date of their arrival was 9 July.
265. come to bide is quoted again p. 113; see also p. 374.
Feel: the manuscript seems to show a final s, but I now
think it merely an accidental stroke of the pen.
266. over-right us: i.e. in the Great House. But Charles did
not reach England until April 1811.
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
THE PRINCE REGENT,
THIS WORK IS,
BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS’S PERMISSION,
MOST RESPECTFULLY
DEDICATED,
BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS’S
DUTIFUL
AND OBEDIENT
HUMBLE SERVANT,
THE AUTHOR.
Notes
[69-70
69. Thur. 18 Apr. 1811
268. Manon: possibly Eliza (though Manon has nothing to
do with Elizabeth ). But a letter from Eliza of 4 Aug. 1797, in
Mr. Austen-Leigh’s possession, rather suggests that Manon was
her maid.
269. Mr. Moore: of Wrotham, no doubt.
Miss Beaty (here and 276) might be a Miss Beatrice
(Smith, or Tilson).
the Col n might be Mr. James Tilson’s brother, of whom we
hear later; but ‘the singing Smiths* (271) were plural, so
probably it is Col. Smith ; the article is accounted for by the
following relative clause, ‘you have been used to hear of*.
270. Henry Egerton . Eliza Austen was intimate with the
Rev. Charles E., of Washington, Durham, and his wife ; H. E.
may have been a connexion.
-h
W. Friars : Mrs. Knight.
271. the l at or 2*. It appears (277) that the visit to the Hills
at Streatham was fixed for 2 May.
out of humour. It will be remembered that the singing
Smiths sang only ‘if in good humour’ (269).
J ames's verses . A good many of his verses are preserved ;
see my edition of the Memoir , note to p. 20. Mrs . K. is no
doubt Mrs. Knight.
70. Thur . 25 Apr . 1811
272. our new nephew : Henry Edgar, son of Frank.
my Brother: Frank.
S db S : Sense and Sensibility.
273. W .: Willoughby. Mrs. K.: Mrs. Knight.
The Incomes were not ‘altered’ until the second edition,
1818 ; see my edition, p. 883.
274. Mr. Cure : perhaps a kinsman, for Henry and Eliza’s
common grandmother, Rebecca Hampson, had a sister who
married a Cure.
70 ]
Notea
Including everybody m were 66. The present 64 Sloane
Ti .■** “ “ •*"** ^ « to u£
(see the plan of the district at that date, p. 267), and there
seems no reason to suspect an earlier change of numbers Un
owner) -re^nstructed' near the end of the eeutouTTd
^ «* ,lle Victoi > Albert Museum, wSo
kmdly inspected Hie drawing-room, reported regretfully that
nothmg remains to recall the period of these festivities' r
gather, however, that the shell of the house was preserved i' so
we may still reconstruct the scene. The back drawing-room is
a andsome octagon; the passage connecting it with a smaller
oblong, room facing the front of the house is short but spacious!
. Ft*!? 6 V e ? ar V\ For the nonsense language cf. 278. For
what follows I am indebted to Mr. Archibald Jacob.
A chorus by Sir Henry Rowley Bishop (1786-1856) begins:
Strike the harp in praise of my love
The lovely sunbeam of Dunscaith,
Strike the harp in praise of Bragela.
‘ In peace love tunes the shepherd’s reed ’ is a glee bv J.
Attwood ; Lay of the Last Minstrel, iii, 2.
Rosabelle , a glee by John Wall Callcott (1766-1821) • no
doubt Lay of the Last Minstrel , vi. 23. ’
‘The Red Cross Knight’, a glee by Callcott, 1797, ‘the words
from Evans’s Old English Ballads’ (‘Blow, Warder! blow thy
sounding horn ’). J
‘Poor Insect’ : ‘ The May Fly’, a glee by Callcott, ‘Poor insect,
poor insect’.
275. the Hypocrite : Bickerstaffe’s adaptation of Cibber’s
version of Tartuffe .
Mrs. Siddons. Mr. C. B. Hogan tells me that King John,
with Mrs. Siddons as Constance, had been announced at Covent
Garden for Saturday 20 April ; but, a day or two before, the
play was changed for Hamlet, and Mrs. S. made her first appear-
ance (since Dec. 1810) in Macbeth on the following Monday.
J. A. was in London till the end of the month or later ; but other
engagements may have prevented her seeing Mrs. S. in The
Gamester (27 April) or Douglas (1 May).
Notes
[70-2
277. Catherine : Hill.
this morning's paper : ‘On Tuesday, Mrs. H. Austin had
a musical party at her house in Sloane-street’. — Morning Post,
25 Apr.
71. Tues. 80 Apr. 1811
The shortness of this letter is explained by its costing
nothing and by its following hard on another.
277 . much further expense is, I suppose, jocular.
278. Mr. W. K. : Knatchbull.
Self-controul: by Mary Brunton.
her Estimate : not, as might be guessed, another novel, but
Mrs. Knight’s opinion of Self-Control.
Pery pell: ‘Very well — or are they ? or no. — or at the most,
I hope they like it.’ See 274.
279. our cousin Miss Payne. For our cousin see note on
p. 14. But Miss P. probably was a distant cousin.
Mrs. Dundas's day: for coming to Town? See 261.
72. Wed. 29 May 1811 ; see Addenda
280. Gloucester House, where the first Duke of G. died in
1805, was the house in Grosvenor St. later called Grosvenor
House. It there enjoyed (as Sir Alfred Welby points out to me)
a view of Hyde Park, and more fresh air than at a later date
Since the Duke’s widow died in 1807 at Brompton, and since
it was not until his marriage in 1816 that the second Duke
acquired (a different) Gloucester House, it seems safe to infer
that in 1811 (the old) G. Ho. was not a ducal residence, and
may have been rented by the Leigh Perrots. But see Addenda.
our cousin, Margt. Beckford. See Index II for the Beck-
fords, and for our cousin the note on p. 14. Margaret B. was
daughter of the author of Valhek. His uncle Francis married
Lady Albinia Bertie; the possibility occurs that ‘our cousin’
may be quoted from the second Mrs. James Austen, whose
husband’s first wife was a Bertie on her mother’s side.
the papers say. The circumstances of the elopement are
known, but I have not traced this newspaper scandal.
281 . plumb : a link with Charles Lamb, who was attached to
the b.
3] Notes
Cowes : Frank and Mary.
so large a party . We know (231) that there were six bed-
chambers. I do not know the interior of the cottage ; but there
are four large windows on the first floor (facing the road) and
two small ones in the roof, i.e. two garrets (see 281) The
distribution seems to be (1) Mrs. A., (2) C. E. A. and J. A.
the Best ’ (5) two maids > ( 6 ) th e manservant
' . On this occasion Mrs. A, offered to vacate (1) for (5).
This confirms the statement of the Memoir (ch. 1 ; Life, p. 51)
that C. and J, ‘shared the same bedroom till separated bv
death’. And cf. 321 ‘our own room’.
distress of the family . Marianne Bridges died about the
end of the month.
282. Maria M. : Middleton.
H. B,: Harriet Benn.
my aunt Harding , (283) My cousin , Flora Long . For my
see note on p. 14. Mrs, H. and her niece F. L. were related to the
Terry s.
283. My name is Diana . Perhaps J. A. wrote her name , i.e.
Miss Harding’s. Mrs. Harding’s was actually Dyonisia.
very conveniently for my mother . We should say ‘for us’;
but J . A. would not claim property in her mother’s gravel paths,
or in Cassandra’s mulberry trees (285), or in ‘my father’s
mutton (35). Mrs. Montagu Knight tells me that Mr. Prowting
lived at ‘Prowting’s’ until he sold that house to the Knights
and built, on the opposite side of the road, a new house then
called ‘Denmead’ and now known as Chawton Dower House.
‘ Prowting’s ’ adjoins the Cottage, and the gravel pit still
exists.
73. Frl 31 May 1811
284. conveyed hither . Miss Sharpe was not at Godmersham;
presumably she was in or near London. See 288.
285. the Gaieties of Tuesday . The 4th of June was the
King’s birthday (1738).
Harriot B . : Benn.
280. the old Map . Edward Austen no doubt, like Mr.
Knightley, would often refer to a map of the Chawton estate.
Mary: Cooke.
[74
Notes
74 . Thur, 6 June 1811
288. Cowes : Frank and Mary.
289. Lady B. : Bridges ; the proposed party : from Goodnestone,
no doubt.
Harriot : Moore.
the Common: Selbourne.
290. Abingdon St. : Mrs. Dundas?
291. Bombasin . Mrs. Austen writes to Mrs. J. A. in July:
‘Last week I bought a bombazeen thinking I should get it
cheaper than when the poor King was actually dead.’
74 . 1 . Martha Lloyd . Sun. 29 Nov . 1812
This, the only letter of 1812, was unknown to the authors of
the Life , or to any writer on J. A., until its sale by a grand-
daughter of Sir Francis in 1930. It fetched the record price
of £1,000. For the text see p. 499.
Martha Lloyd was then at Barton with her friend Mrs, Dundas,
who died there on 1 Dec. Mrs. D. D . was her daughter Mrs.
Deans Dundas. The letter had no full direction; doubtless it
was enclosed in a cover to Mr. Dundas, who, being a member
of parliament, would receive it free.
499. sim, i.e. seem ; the short vowel occurs in many dialects.
500. Edward & his Harem. Fanny is not mentioned (she
would be in charge at Godmersham) but Lizzie was of the
party, and perhaps others of the children. They however do
not justify the expression Harem, which is accounted for by
Mary Deedes (who had a brother at Winchester) and perhaps
Fanny Cage (502).
William: Edward’s boy,
501. Miss W Camilla Wallop; see Index II. Mr. Austen-
Leigh supplies the four lines, quoted in Stephen Terry’s diary :
Camilla, good humoured and merry and small,
For a husband, it happened, was at her last stake,
And having in vain danced at many a ball
Is now very happy to jump at a Wake.
I have to thank Mrs. C. G. Stirling for leave to print this
fragment of the ‘Steventon edition’, which has not hitherto
74 - 6 ]
Notes
been published with the true name ; the Memoir in on nf
edition) calls the lady Maria. (P ’ 8 ° f my
P. & P . : Pride and Prejudice. See Index VI.
Tf ilham and Mary Jane: Fowle.
uun, m a an. 1813
ing Soc£ty! ae<2/ ° CtaV ° 1 Le ‘ thC PTOperty of the Chawton Read-
Cop* Pasley. It is Military Policy on the title-page, but
Mr. Austen-Leigh s transcript (here and 294) is no doubt
correct ; the Oxford Dictionary has police in that sense at an
even later date.
IndexVI 70mmiSS * 0nCr * 1 * reference to Mansfield Park, see
293. eleven altogether. It appears from 295 that the ‘ nartv
on Wednesday’ (292) was Mr. Papillon’s. So we have two
Papillons (Mr. P. and his sister), Mr. and Mrs. H. Digweed
Mr. and Mrs. Clement, Miss Benn, J. A., and two ‘strange
^ r ? 6n , ten ' 0nly Miss p - T - remains, and she is almost
certainly the Miss Terry of 294. But there is no indication that
® ny Miss Terry of Dummer was at this time staying with
Mrs. H. Digweed or elsewhere in the neighbourhood. It occurred
to me that Miss P. T. might be a daughter of a William Parker
Terry of Alton, whose death (1810) I had noted in Gent. Mas
But I find that W. P. T. (1748-1810, a y. b. of Thomas T. of
Dummer) had one d. only, who died in infancy.
294. round table . Eleven (293) less four for whist, and J. A.,
leaves six. The round table in Mansfield Park consisted of Lady
Bertram and Edmund, two Prices, and two Crawfords.
295. Bank Stock may be a joke.
in a cover . The letter did not go through the post (if it
had, a cover would have doubled the charge). No doubt it was
sent by hand (‘by J. Bond’, 296).
296. Brother Michael : perhaps Terry.
76. Fri. 29 Jan . 1813
297. my own darling child : the first copy of Pride and
Prejudice .
Notes
[78-7
my hvo other sets suggests that the number of free copies
was five, J. A, ‘dispersed’ (439) twelve of Emma; but she was
then relatively famous, and Emma was published on a profit-
sharing agreement.
Portsmouth : Frank.
my stupidest of alt. J. A. looks forward to a crescendo of
price and stupidity. In the event she feared that Emma would
be thought ‘inferior in good sense’ to M. P , We do not know
where she would have ranked Persuasion in point of stupidity.
For the actual prices see Index VI.
hvo such people : I suppose Mrs. Austen and J. A. herself,
for Martha was from home (299).
298. I do not write: Marmion , vi. 38.
I do not rhyme to that dull elf
Who cannot image to himself . . .
The second volume. The number of pages is: i. 307, il. 239,
iii. 823.
your enquiries . I guess that the subject of inquiry was
the disposal of livings, on which the plot of M. P. largely turns.
Cassandra was staying with her brother James, who would be
an authority. The second inquiry, about hedgerows, suggests
that J. A. thought of using in M. P. the device which she later
used in Persuasion . The dialogue, I suppose, would have been
between Edmund and Mary, overheard by Fanny. If J. A.
abandoned the idea because there are no hedgerows in North-
ants, it is a striking example of her realistic scruples. See the
note on ships 9 p. 317. See also note on 78.1.
your Charades. A collection of Charades dec written a hun-
dred years ago by Jane Austen and her family was published
by Spottiswoode & Co. in 1895.
beyond anything & everything quotes Mrs. H. Digweed.
77 . Thur. 4 Feb . 1813
299. fits of disgust: a much less strong expression then than
now. Dr. Johnson has lost reputation by describing Lycidas as
disgusting.
800. Mrs . D.j Digweed.
blunder in the printing . See my edition, note on p. 843.
Notes
77 - 8 ]
John M.i Middleton.
301. the Harwoods of Deane (302).
and^tosuShemfa ?h e See ^ oTdT'w™ made >
contracted debts, quite unsuspected by ^ ^ arwoo d had
had been left in his hands,’ and hSl gone^tlSthe f
(Carolme Austen’s Reminiscences.) penaent on the He *-
Dumm^Tnl^w 8 who became Rector of
2 though slie was not staying at StevLtTS p S
be worth while to mention that Michael Ter^ 7s deseribedin
Terry’. p c e as poor blundering Michael
Edward : James Edward (302).
S. <£ ; Steventon and Portsmouth (297),
78. j Vues. 9 Feb . 1813
refers tofthls CaT . oUne Austen “ her Reminiscences
refers to this, without mentioning Mrs. Heathcote’s name.
‘It was generally supposed, I believe I might sav it w«,
SJnS^IhaVh^adTo 0 " 8 (Joh " fatin^S
-5 that he had formed an attachment to a lady of good
though not *S OWn nei ^omhood. It was also believed
a 211/ > rS t mth equal dainty, that this lady,
accent Wm Nor T™ I P istress > would be willing to
as he had a J&t
then found f i? ^ *1°°° & year around it- But . . . he
best he could for his Mother and Aunt.’ P
Maria may be a Heathcote ; see Index II.
803. the Boys: Fanny’s brothers, on the Winchester road.
/ shall tell Anna : the secret of Pride and Prejudice ?
804. Lady W . : Williams. ^
305. work for one evening • to finish P. and P.
78.1. Tues. 16 Feb. 1813
See at end of these notes.
Notes
[ 79-80
79. Thur. 20 May 1818
807. little Cass and her attendant are no doubt Charles
Austen’s little girl (born Dec. 1808) and her attendant Betsy
(351), who would have to be distinguished from her homonym
(299) of Chawton Cottage. The end of the visit is mentioned
318. But the Cassy intending to sketch is presumably Edward’s
daughter (born Nov. 1806), now at the Great House.
308. the watercoloured Exhibition: that in Spring Gardens
(309).
a 16 a of the £20,000. Cf. 372, ‘Fyfield estates’. I imagine
the legacy may have been from Mrs. Dundas; but her will
cannot be found at Somerset House.
the Guildford : sic in the copy ; but J. A. may have written
or intended the Guildford road.
80. Mon. 24 May 1818
809. No. 10: Henrietta-street.
the Exhibition in Spring Gardens: held by the Society of
Painters in Oil and Water Colours. The catalogue (7855 dd in
the British Museum) might lead to the identification of Mrs.
Bingley’s portrait, which would be indeed a triumph of re-
search.
310. the Great Exhibition: doubtless that of the British
Academy in Somerset-place, which was opened on 3 May.
Sir Joshua Reynolds. I find in the Gentleman's Magazine
for May 1813, p. 480: ‘The Managers of the British Institution,
as a tribute to the memory of Sir Joshua Reynolds, have
borrowed 130 of his performances, which are now on exhibition
for the benefit of Students.’
shaped face is what J . A. wrote, but she may have intended
shape (the modern figure).
My cousin Caroline. For my see the note on p. 14; the
italics show that Caro line was Mrs. Tilson’s pronunciation.
311. a wild Beast. The secret of authorship was leaking out.
come to bide : a quotation from Frank’s childhood as
p. 265 shows.
312. Miss jD.: Darcy.
81 - 2 ] Notes
81. Francis Austen , Sat 8 July 1818
314. a new Garden . Chawton House faces west; in front of
it, at a considerable distance and at a lower level, is the Alton-
Southampton road. The Rectory is on the other side of the
load. The present garden, which is large and enclosed by a
beautiful brick wall, is ‘at the top of the lawn’ behind the
house, and is no doubt of Edward’s making. Mrs. Montagu
Knight tells me that the old garden was in the church meadow.
315. dishonourable accomodation . I suppose because the
boy’s keep was saved.
Deputy Receiver . He had been promoted to Receiver-
General for Oxfordshire.
his nephew : Edward’s boy, not James Edward, as p. 888
shows.
316. Mrs . L . P , : Leigh Perrot.
that vile compromise . See note on 173.
Mr. Blackall. For J. A.’s interest in him see 11 (27 note).
317. £250. We now know (p. 501) that the copyright of
P. and P . was sold for £110. Previously that figure depended
on this passage.
not half so entertaining : Mansfield Park .
your old Ships. For his ships see Index VIII, and for the
risk she took, p. 340. The ships borrowed for Mansfield Park
were Cleopatra , Elephant Endymion . See also my note on
hedgerows , p. 298.
318. not all off. Sir Francis in extreme old age had still a
quantity of hair.
82. Wed . 15 Sept. 1813
Since the text was printed I have received from Mr. Davidson
Cook a collation with the original. The letter was on four leaves,
and the conclusion — about six lines and the signature — has
been cut away from the top of the fourth leaf. For a passage
omitted by Lord Brabourne see note below on p. 822. Two
corrections of the text are noticed below.
By favour of Mr. Gray. The letter went to Alton in ‘the
parcel ’ (322) and Mr. G. conveyed it thence.
819. a little crowded. J. A. wrote a little crowd .
Notes
[82
his quarters : ‘at an Hotel in the next street’ (887).
Mr. Crabbe. See p. 828.
820. Lady Robert'. Kerr.
the books may mean ‘volumes’, and need not imply that
S. and S. was sent too ; but see 828-4, which may refer to a
presentation copy of the second edition of S. and S.
821. Mrs. H. and Miss B.: Mrs. Heathcote and her sister
Alethea, who became Miss Bigg on her elder sister Catherine’s
becoming Mrs. Hill.
Clandestine Marriage : by Colman and Garrick.
Midas : by Kane O’Hara.
Five hours at Brighton : by Samuel Beazley.
322. Harriot Byron's feather-. Sir Charles Grandison, Letter
22: ‘A white Paris sort of cap, glittering with spangles, and
encircled by a chaplet of artificial flowers, with a little white
feather perking from the left ear, is to be my headdress.’
Thursday Morning. Just before this is, in the original, the
following passage omitted by Lord Brabourne :
‘This not seeing much of Henry, I have just seen him
however for 3 minutes, & have read him the Extract from
Mrs. t. A. s Letter & he says he will write to Mrs. Fra A.
about rt, & he has no doubt of being attended to as he knows
they feel themselves obliged to him.-Perhaps you may see
hun on Saturday next. He has just started such an idea.
i3 ut it will be only for a couple of days.
A. (the reading is not certain) is presumably the
wife of Francis Motley Austen, or possibly the wife of their
eldest son, who also was Francis.
323. Madame B . : Bigeon.
Mr. Crabbe : Huchon, Crabbe and his Times (Engl, trans.
1907, p. 375) states that the Crabbes were in London from
July until just before Mrs. C.’s death in September.
crimson velvet. Mr. E. H. W. Meyerstein in Times Lit.
Suppt. 81 March 1927 quoted the Poems of 1807 (p. 106, The
Lady, in Parish Register, Part Hi, Burials)-.
Close on the case the crimson velvet ’s press’d
(referring to a funeral pall). Perhaps a better parallel, and one
82 - 4 ] Notes
more likely to be in J. A.’s mind, is Tales, 1812, p. 45, The
Gentleman Farmer :
In full festoons the crimson curtains fell.
G m (i.e. Godmersham) is Mr. Austen-Leigh’s brilliant and
certain correction of the you of Lord Brabourne’s edition.
Edward and his family spent the summer of 1813 at Chawton
(see 80,81, and p. 341 ‘five months’), but were at Godmersham
in the autumn. (The correction is confirmed by the original.)
November collection. See p. 815 for Henry’s Oxfordshire
appointment j and p. 426.
Nothing has been done. I guess that there was a question
of sending Sense and Sensibility to Warren Hastings, who had
read and admired Pride and Prejudice. This would require
the mediation of Henry (see 820). In the idiom of the time,
which is not quite that of to-day, ‘ books ’ may mean either the
set of three volumes (as on p. 820) or, as we say, ‘copies’, and
especially presentation copies. ‘Do not let us teize one another
about books’, wrote Dr. Johnson to his publisher.
324. sent down to Alton. Henry’s bank had an Alton braneh.
Mr. H. : Warren Hastings.
Poor F. Cage. The combination of the White Hart and
susceptibility to noise reminds us of Louisa Musgrove’s accident
and subsequent nerves. I can find no report of the accident
in the Bath newspapers.
83. Thurs. 16 Sept. 1813
327. Mrs. T. : Tilson.
from the Compting House. Mr. Tilson was a member of the
firm, and Henry was now living ‘ over the shop ’.
84. Thur. 23 Sept. 1813
829. Mary P. : Plumtre.
Ben: Lefroy.
every dinner-invitation. See p. 341.
330. The Mr. Ks. The Mr. Knatchbulls of pp. 330, 331, 339
are not, as Lord Braboume (who had not seen 85) thought
(ii. 123), sons of Sir Edward VIII, but his cousins, Mrs. Knight’s
brothers ; ‘ their lovely Wadham ’ was their son and nephew.
Notes
[ 84-5
881, the two others : Edward and George.
'Tis Night : from Beattie’s Hermit .
Cambridge : probably R. B.Harraden’s Cantabrigia Depicta :
A Series of Engravings, quarto, 1809.
332. the empty Pew . The Knights spent five months at
Chawton (341) and J. A. accompanied her brother and nieces
to London on 14 Sept. Consequently on Sunday the 19th the
pew in Chawton church was empty for the first time.
Bentigh (pronounce to rhyme with high), a wooded hill
in Godmersham park. A map of 1769 shows, within a few
miles, a Clovertigh and an Ollantigh .
333. Mary 0. nor Mary P.: Oxenden, Plumtre.
Fanny C. : Cage.
Modem Europe : perhaps a work by John Bigland, q.v. in
Index V.
334. a Thing for measuring Timber with . An 01 de Thrift
Newly Revived (London 1612) undertakes in its title-page to
explain ‘the use of a small portable Instrument for measuring
of Board and the solid content and height of any Tree
standing’.
Poor Dr . Isham . Mrs. Lybbe Powys records (p. 296) that
Dr. I. was godfather, and Mrs. Austen godmother, to one of
Edward Cooper’s children (July 1797).
M** Darblay's new Novel : The Wanderer.
335. Mistress of all I survey . Index V, s.v. Cowper.
85. Francis Austen . Sat 25 Sept 1813
337. inside out . The barouche box was occupied bv Lizzv
(319).
338. her Daughter : probably Mme Perigord.
were sing-song . I could not be sure whether J. A. wrote
were or mere.
339. The Clerk*. John Hogben or Hogbin.
the Sherers are going . See 342, 366, 373. Clearly the pro-
posed arrangement fell through ; for Mr. S. continued to officiate
till 1816, and the registers show no trace of Mr. P.
340. my application . See note on 317.
88 - 7 ]
Notes
So. Mon. 11 Oct. 1813
842. Mr. J.p. : John Plumtre.
348. triennial bliss seems a malapropism.
844. disgust me. See note on 299.
Self Control-, by Mary Brunton.
Such a long Letter ! refers to Cassandra’s j the 2nd page of
J . A. s own has only 30 lines. p g
‘ WhftftwnT? ! in SiT Charles Grandison, Letter 88 :
What shall I do with my gratitude! 0 my dear, I am over-
with my gratitude ; I can only express it in silence
, . re . , them (before Sir Charles who had rescued her from
abduction, and his sister who had sheltered her).
345. Mrs. Hr. Heathcote. Alethea: Bigg.
naming a Heroine. The heroine of ‘Sanditon’ is Charlotte.
840. one Brother . . . & another Brother's Wife : Charles at
the Nore and Mrs. F. A. at Deal.
. nf\? ed UP ° n Goose ' 1 am referred to British Apollo, 1708
!
pray tell me whence
-The Custom’d Proverb did commence,
That who eats Goose on Michael’s Day,
Shan’t Money lack, his Debts to pay.
Old Michaelmas Day was 11 Oct,
my 2 s Edition : of S. and S., not of P. and P. (they both
appeared in 1813). See Index VI.
Uncle Edward: Bridges.
87. Tlfiur. 14 Oct. 1818
84*7. room for the seal . A franked letter could be enclosed
in an ‘envelope’, so that the seal need not be on the same
piece of paper as the text.
348. either House : Chilham Castle (Wildman), and perhaps
Dane Court — but it is a mile from the village — or the vicarage
(Tylden).
the Footes . Edward Bridges’s wife was a Foote.
849. Lady B.: Bridges.
Notes
[87-8
350* Hooper x Holder.
354. on board : the Namur *
88. Thur. 21 Oct. 1818
857. Miss Floyd. ‘It was my Grandfather who changed the
pronunciation of Lloyd into Floyd as it was always spoken in
my recollection. They said that was the true Welsh pronuncia-
tion of double L, but a Welshman and a scholar has assured
me it was useless to try and imitate their accent— the English
tongue could not give it, and that we had therefore better
say Lloyd’ (Caroline Austen’s Reminiscences).
Key Street : not a London street as might be supposed, but
a Kentish village.
Harriot : Moore.
858. Mrs . Crabbe. See Index II for the date of her death.
one of his prefaces : to The Borough (1810); in the third
paragraph Crabbe likens an author’s partiality for his manu-
script to a parent’s for his child, showing some familiarity with
manuscripts in the study’ and ‘children in the nursery’.
89. Tues. 26 Oct. 1813
862. Gloucestershire-, i.e. Adlestrop (383).
‘ Whatever is, is besV (right): Pope, Essay on Man .
directly : that is, I suppose, by the Bath road. The road-
books name several houses called Harefield (Place, Park, &c.)
in the neighbourhood of Uxbridge, but I have no means of
telling which of these, if any, the party were to visit.
368. Mde. B . : Bigeon.
talk from books. J. A. perhaps remembered the Tour to the
Hebrides (3 Nov.): ‘He was pleased to say, “You and I do not
talk from books.” *
declined a curacy. ‘My father although deeply attached
to my mother was far too high-principled and conscientious to
take Holy Orders for the sake of being immediately married.
Possibly he had not yet quite decided on his profession, at all
events he was not ordained until three years afterwards. As to
my mother’s reluctance to go to Chawton, sent away as she
Notes
89-90]
was to mark my G d Mother’s anger with
she should go with any other feelings.’
Lady Elizabeth'. Finch-Hatton.
him, it was not possible
Bellas notes.
90. Wed. 3 Nov. 1813
864. this celebrated Birthday : I do not know whose.
366. Lady B. : Bridges.
Dr. P. : Parry.
Bru of feu the Archbishop puzzled Lord Braboume : but
bru is daughter-in-law, and Harriot Moore is meant.
367. Lady B. : the reigning Lady Bridges, not the dowaeer
who was in Bath. 6 *
*
her Mother's family. Anna’s mother was, on her mother’s
side, a Bertie.
368. five Tables, Eight <& twenty Chairs & two fires. For the
various rooms at Godmersham Park see the references in
Index III. The main entrance is on the north, and opens on the
large hall. The room in which J. A. sat with these tables and
chairs is probably what is now called the south drawing-room.
It might escape identification to-day ; for Lady Lewisham tells
me that 4 in putting up the old Adams bookcase at the end of
this room, when we redecorated it, we closed up a second
fireplace . The library was probably a smaller room on the
same side of the house. The hall chamber is above the hall,
and the yellow room adjoins it.
The house is described in Zechariah Cozens, Tour through
the Isle of Thanet (1793), as 6 a modern building of a centre and
two wings ; one of which, the Eastern, contains a most excellent
library ; in the centre are some good apartments, particularly on
the back front, which command exceeding delightful prospects
of the hill and pleasure grounds
Charing Cross. Boswell’s Life of Johnson (2 Apr. 1775).
Money for Printing : because the second edition of S. andS.
was produced at the author’s expense.
369. Poor Lord Howard : not identified, and I do not know
whether it was a public or a private lament.
Notes [ 91-2
91 . Sat 6 Nov. 1818
370. the famous Ball : perhaps that of Jan. 1801 (pp. 104 #
108).
371. la Mere Beauti : Mme de S6vign6.
to Cheltenham . Caroline Austen’s Reminiscences record that
her mother and she went from Kintbury (with the Fowles) to
Cheltenham on 1 Nov. and returned 6 Dec.
372. my 2 d Edit. : of Sense and Sensibility , not ( Life 289) of
Pride and Prejudice. The second edition of the latter was
published at nearly the same time; but J. A. had sold the
copyright to Egerton (see p. 501), and there is no evidence that
she was consulted. The second edition (unlike those of S. S.
and M , P .) contains no correction due to her. See my article,
Jane Austen and her Publishers’, in London Mercury Auer.
1930.
what newsl The Address was moved in both Houses on
4 Nov. ; when the Marquis Wellesley ‘concurred in the language
of Mr. Pitt, that England had saved herself by her firmness
and energies, and had saved other countries by her example’.
On 8 Nov. Lord Bathurst ‘in a neat speech’ moved the thanks
of the House of Lords to the Marquis of Wellington for the
eminent skill and ability displayed in the operations succeeding
the battle of Vittoria.
374. Mrs. H.i doubtless Mrs. Heathcote, staying with her
sister Catherine (Mrs. Hill) at Streatham ; though Mrs. H.
might be Mr. Hill’s mother.
I thought you would came: see note on p, 265.
92. Wed. 2 March 1814
376. Henry's approbation. It is generally assumed that Henry
read M. P. in proof ; and the assumption is natural in view of
the dates— the book was read in the first week of March and
published in May. The point is of the smallest importance;
but I feel sure that H. read the MS, J, A. would hardly send
it to the printer without first getting his approval. Again the
proofs would hardly be all in her hands before he had seen
any of them; for they were no doubt sent to him by the
printer as on former occasions (273). The fact that the book
P p
® 2 — 5 ] Notes
as read was in three volumes proves nothing, for the division
into volumes was not left to the printer.
the ‘ Heroine by E. S. Barrett.
Miss P,i Papillon, or Prowting?
M d B. : Bigeon.
377. the willow. See p. 398.
378. Frederick. See pp. 381, 386. General (Tilson) Chowne’s
name was Christopher. ‘Frederick* seems to he an old nick-
name, or perhaps some pieee of make-believe ; there is no trace
of a Frederick Tilson in that family.
93. Sat. 5 March 1814
379. Young Wyndham: Knatchbull, second son of Sir Ed-
ward VIII. Fanny did better in marrying his elder brother,
afterwards Sir Edward IX. But J. A. in March 1814 could not
foresee the death of that gentleman’s first wife, later in the
year.
Mrs. L. and Miss E. : Latouche and East.
380. second prosecution. See 381.
6 weeks mourning. For the Queen’s brother the Duke of
Mecklenburg-Strelitz .
383. Catherine : Hill.
His opponent knocks under. This was too optimistic. In the
end Edward had to pay a large sum to settle the claim on
Chawton made by heirs of former Knights. ( Chawton Manor,
p. 171.) See Index II, s.v. Baverstock.
384. ‘the Devil to pay ’ : by Charles Coffey.
Artaxerxes : an Italian opera.
the Farmer's Wife : by Charles Dibdin.
94. Wed. 9 March 1814
885. his new acquaintance: Mr. J. P.; see the letters to Fanny
of Nov. 1814.
386. your little companion: Charles’s Cassy.
95. Anna Austen. May or June 1814
387. sending your MS. ‘The story to which most of these
letters of Aunt Jane’s refer was never finished. It was laid aside
for a season because my mother’s hands were so full. . . . The
Notes
[ 95-9
story was laid by for years, and then one day in a fit of despon-
dency burnt. I remember sitting on the rug and watching its
destruction, amused with the flame and the sparks which kept
breaking out in the blackened paper. In later years when I
expressed my sorrow that she had destroyed it, she said she
could never have borne to finish it, but incomplete as it was
Jane Austen’s criticisms would have made it valuable.’ Dellas
MS.
388. Lord Orville : in Evelina.
96. Tues. 14 June 1814
389. the Emperor : of Russia.
97 . Thur. 23 June 1814
390. Miss B. : perhaps Burdett.
391. Berks: i.e. Kintbury.
392. Sir W. P. : Pilkington.
98 . Anna Austen. Wed. 10 Aug. 1814
393. Enthusiasm was perhaps relinquished on the discovery
that Madame de Genlis had written ‘ Les Vceux Temeraires ou
L’Enthousiasme ’ (1799 or earlier).
Desborough. The late baron’s title dates from 1905.
W . D. and H. D. : Digweed.
99 . Tues. < 23 > Aug. 1814
Lord Brabourne prints this letter without the day of the
month, but states (ii. 221) that it was written on the 14th.
He must have forgotten that the Canterbury Races were held
late in Aug. The Kentish Chronicle for Friday 19 Aug. states
that ‘the grand Ball last night at Bellingham’s Assembly Rooms
was attended by all the principal families of the County’*
naming among others our friends Sir Edward Knatchbull,’
Sir John Honywood, General Montresor, Sir H. Oxenden
Mr. Deedes, Mr. Lushington, Mr. Knight, Mr. Papillon — but
no Finch-Hattons, see below. The year is not in doubt, for it
is clear that Henry had just moved house. He was in Henrietta-
street in June and in Hans-place in Nov. (see No. 106, where the
date is not conjectural, though I have bracketed it, but is
99 102 ] Notes
ascertained by the postmark). We may therefore date this
letter, with some confidence, Tuesday, 23 Aug,
397. Edinburgh & Sterling . The intuition (Life 805) that this
was an imaginary episode was confirmed by the publication
of Love and Freindship (1790) in 1922. See p. 38: ‘it would
certainly have been much more agreeable to us, to visit the
Highlands in a Postchaise than merely to travel from Edin-
burgh to Sterling and from Sterling to Edinburgh every other
day in a crowded and uncomfortable Stage’.
397. no Lady Charlottes. Kirby was the Northamptonshire
seat of Lord Winchilsea, so the reference is to the Finch-
Hattons of Eastwell. Young George F.-H. married in 1814
Lady Charlotte Graham. I cannot be sure of the other Lady C. ;
there are several candidates. (The Lady Charlotte who was
G. F.-H.’s great-aunt had died in 1813, as Lord Brabourne
(ii. 124) correctly states, and as J. A. must have known.)
398 . the Willow : doubtless ‘ willow sheets ’ or ‘ willow squares ’
sold ready plaited for hat-making (quotations in O.E.D., 1819*
and 1834).
399. the parcel : from Henrietta-street to the Alton bank.
The letters sent ‘ by favour of Mr. Gray ’ were no doubt in the
parcel ; cf. 427 . It did not go every day, as 425 shows.
Nunna Hat : J. A. herself, no doubt, but the etymology
is unknown.
Mrs. C .: possibly Cooke or Craven, as this is Steventon
news . ‘ farther & farther from Poverty ’ may be ironical.
Ben: Lefroy.
100. Anna Austen. Fri. 9 Sept. 1814
402. Newton Priors. Newton Valence and Priors Dean, both
in the Chawton neighbourhood, may have suggested N. P.
this sad Event: Mrs. Charles Austen’s death. Her fourth
child was born and died this month.
Mr. D. : Digweed.
102. Anna Austen. n.d.
This obscure joke is only in form a letter to Anna. But since
it is unpublished I have inserted it here.
Notes
[102-5
‘Aunt Jane and my Mother had been laughing over a most
tiresome novel in eight volumes by a Mrs. Hunter, containing
story within story, and of which the heroine was always in
floods of tears.’ Bellas MS . (I cannot find that Mrs. Hunter
wrote anything above five volumes ; but Bibliotheca Britannica
certifies that ‘all her works are of a strictly moral tendency’.)
406. The copy, on which I formerly relied, mis-read Hunter
as Hemter and omitted the words to Norwich after provided .
407. the Car of Falkenstein : Falknor’s coach, mentioned on
p. 297.
103. Fanny Knight Fri . 18 Nov . 1814
409. Mr. J. P. : Plumtre.
412. Host & Hostess. Edward had lent the Great House to
Frank, and was now his brother’s guest in his own house.
Aunt Louisa : Bridges.
Fanny C. : Cage.
104. Anna Lefroy. Tues. 22 Nov . 1814
413. his Brother: either Henry or William; Cousins: James
Edward, and one or more of Edward’s numerous cousins on his
mother’s side, Bridges or Deedes.
the Wen is Mr. R. A. Austen-Leigh’s restoration of the
mutilated MS. (Lord Brabourne printed London). The use is
associated with Cobbett, who, however, does not seem to have
it earlier than 1821. Dean Tucker, 1783, writing of London,
has: ‘no better than a wen or excrescence upon the body
politic’.
105. Anna Lefroy . Tues. 29 Nov. 1814
414. us both: J. A. and Eliz. Gibson (422).
415. Susan db Maria: Middleton.
Your Uncle & Edw d : the Knights, no doubt in their way
from Chawton (412) to Godmersham (416). For the Cause see
383, 427. In the final paragraph your Uncle is Henry.
Isabella : a tragedy adapted by Garrick from Southerner
Fatal Marriage .
106 - 10 ]
Notes
106. Fanny Knight. Wed. 30 Nov. 1814
416. to give them both Pleasure. ‘When first my father and
mother married, they lived at Hendon with hif next
brother Edward who at that time had a house there This
ST f » Aunl Ja “ ™ SM Ae had the poZ oitkta j
her friends to it and also that the “both” to whom It was “so
gentlemem’ Sf” *" ^ *»
in me tym^y. °' ^ second ed!tio, ‘ was pubUshed
108. Anna Lefroy .
Since my text was printed Miss Lefroy has falsified the record
by giving this characteristic scrap to its grateful editor.
421. to lye-in of a Daughter-, a prediction falsified bv the
event, see Index II. ^
422. Rosanne : by Laetitia Matilda Hawkins.
serious subjects. The avowed purpose of Rosanne was ‘to
point out— though better illustrated by her Ladyship’s ex-
ample— the inestimable advantages attendant on the practice
of pure Christianity’. (Her Ladyship, to whom the book was
dedicated, was the Countess of Waldegrave.)
Mile Cossart , like the Ormsdens, is a character in Rosanne.
109. Anna Lefroy. Nov. or Dec. 1814
422. Mrs . Creed. See p. 425. Probably Catherine Herries (sec
Herries in Index II) who 1813 m. Henry Knowles Creed ; their d.
Juliet m. Sir Frederick Pollock, 2nd Bart., and was the mother
of the present Sir Frederick and of the late Walter Herries
Pollock, author of an interesting book on J. A. This conjecture
is Mr. Austen-Leigh s, and its probability is confirmed by Sir
Frederick, though he knows of no residence at Hendon.
my list : of Opinions on Mansfield Park.
423. Self-control : by Mary Brunton.
110. Anna Lefroy. Fri. 29 Sept. 1815
423. Ben and Anna now lived in part of a farm-house,
Wyards, close to Alton.
Notes [ 111-10
111 . Tues. 17 Oct. 1815
425. publishing for myself . In the end Mr, Murray took the
risk, such as it was.
Mr. or Miss P. : doubtless Papillon ; Henry’s second wife
was a Jackson, and her mother was a Papillon.
comical consequence . It is believed that Mr. S. had at some
time proposed marriage.
Henry's illness . Caroline Austen’s Reminiscences tell us
that J. A. sent for her brother James, who went to Chawton
on 24 Oct. and took C. E. A. to London, leaving his wife to
look after Mrs. A.— Martha Lloyd being then in Berkshire. The
illness explains the ‘preparatory Letter’ (428) sent to Scarlets
on 25 Oct.
427. his cause . See 383, 415.
112. Caroline Austen , Mon . 30 Oct , 1815
428. at Chawton . Caroline tells us (Reminiscences) that she
joined her mother there soon after 24 Oct. and stayed about a
month.
the Hermit: perhaps Goldsmith’s ballad, of which there
were settings ; more probably (as Mr. Archibald Jacob tells me)
Tommaso Giordani’s very popular setting of Beattie’s poem.
113. J. S. Clarke . Wed. 15 Nov . 1815
For the Clarke correspondence (and documents connected
with it) I may refer to my Plan of a Novel (Oxford, 1926).
114. John Murray. Nov. 1815
431. Waterloo: Scott’s Field of Waterloo.
115. Thur . 23 Nov. 1815
432. delays of the printers: Roworth, who printed vols. i-ii
of Emma . The paper (see 433) has a watermark dated 1815.
116. Fri. 24 Nov. 1815
435. Mary: Mrs. F. A.
117 - 27 ]
Notes
117. Sun. 26 Nov. 1815
436. arra-rooi. It is not so spelled in the first edition.
Aunt Hat*: Miss Palmer, Charles A.’s sister-in-law (later
his second wife). Cassy was at Chawton.
437. B. Chapel: Belgrave.
plenty of Mortar. No plausible explanation of this has been
suggested.
438. the little girl at Wyards cannot he Anna’s daughter, who
was born on 20 Oct. Probably Anna had taken charge of one
of Frank’s little girls (whose youngest brother was born this
month) ; probably Cassandra, for the Cassy of the postscript is
Charles’s.
M* Duval. Braboume prints Mr. I failed to correct this
from the MS. when I had the chance ; but probably J. A. wrote
M* for Madame. Evelina, vol. i. Letter 21.
118. Sat. 2 Dec. 1815
439. Mr. T. : Tilson.
absenting himself. The impending bankruptcy might make
a temporary absence prudent.
441. save you 2 d . I cannot explain this. The charge for a
‘ single letter ’ to Alton was sixpence.
give the P.R. a binding. This was settled — no doubt on Mr.
Murray’s advice — in favour of a binding; see 451, 453. The
other presentation copies were sent ‘unbound’, that is in pub-
lishers’ boards.
121. John Murray. Mon. 11 Dec. 1815
446. all unbound. Collectors will note that presentation copies
of Emma with ‘ From the Authoress ’ in a clerkly hand need not
be suspected on that account.
*
127. John Murray . Mon. 1 Apr . 1816
453. the ‘ Quarterly Review \ The writer of this review was
Sir Walter Scott. The history of the attribution is perplexed ;
but it was placed beyond all doubt by Mr. C. B. Hogan of Yale
Notes [127-88
in Publications of the Modem Language Association of America.
45 (1929), p. 1264.
the late event : the failure of Henry’s bank.
130. J. E. Austen. Tues. 9 July 1816
458. Little Cassy : Frank’s, not Charles’s ?
a very considerable pond. The pond has disappeared, but
the ordnance map shows it.
459. Mrs. S — : Sdater.
the Trial : perhaps the ‘ Baigent business ’.
132. Wed. 4 Sept. 1816
461. to be preferred in May. J. A. had spent three weeks
at Cheltenham in May of this year, with Cassandra ( Caroline’s
Reminiscences). She may have drunk the water from what she
calls (462) ‘my pump’.
decided for Orders. Caroline Austen’s Reminiscences record
that on 19 Dec. H. A. went to Winchester for his examination,
and on the next day to Salisbury, ‘ where he was ordained to the
Curacy of Alton’ (of Bentley, near Alton, where for many years
he was perpetual curate. Life 333).
462. The Alton 4 : Frank, his wife, and (464) a Gibson, and the
obscure Mr. Sweney ?
133. Sun. 8 Sept. 1816
463. Berkshire. Presumably Kintbury.
a coach from Hungerford. Caroline Austen’s Reminiscences
show that Mrs. James Austen and C. E. A. took Caroline to
Cheltenham via Kintbury, there picking up Mary Jane Fowle.
In their return they left M. J. F. at Kintbury and then diverged,
Mrs. J. A. returning to Steventon, C. E. A. taking Caroline to
Chawton. J . A.’s sigh for a coach from Hungerford is no doubt
connected with this division of the party.
465. C. Craven. The Cheltenham Chronicle of 1 Aug.
mentions the Duke and Duchess of Orleans, and the issue of
8 Aug. mentions Charlotte Craven. But the Public Librarian,
who kindly searched the files, could not find Miss Austen or
Mr. Pococke.
Edward. Ben’s brother Christopher Edward Lefroy.
184 - 40 ]
Notes
134. J.E. Austen. Mon. 16 Dec. 1816
is teMan? h ivl hat ^ ^ ^ Hannahc ™Iey’s Which
Mr. Papillon. See p. 236, 4 M" Eliz‘* P. • is his (unmarried)
SiSXCfi
136. Cassandra ( l Ca$sy ’). Wed. 8 Jan. 1817
470. The leaf containing the letter to Cassy and the direction
was no doubt, pp. 3-4 of the whole, pp. 1-2 being a letter to
Charles.
137. Caroline Austen. Thur. 23 Jan. 1817
473. your Uncle db Aunt : Frank (at Alton).
139. Alethea Bigg. Fri. 24 Jan. 1817
475. William: Heathcote.
Her grandmama. The copy has :
4 Her grandmama I can only see at Chawton ’, which is
nonsense. I have put she for I ; alternatives are ;
4 Her g. can only see her at C.’
or
‘Her g. and I can only see her at C.’
476. Our own new clergyman: Henry.
between Streatham and Winchester. Miss Bigg was no doubt
going to stay at W. with her other sister Mrs. Heathcote
( 495 ).
the 4 Poet's Pilgrimage ’. Southey, who was Mr. Hill’s
6on-in-law, lost his eldest child Herbert in April 1816. The
proem contains an affectionate description of the boy.
140. Fanny Knight. Thur. 20 Feb. 1817
478. the new Silver Coinage was announced by proclamation
of 12 February; it replaced a debased currency.
(last line), will be. J. A. wrote will be to me, but erased
the last two words.
480. his marrying somebody else, ‘he’ is now the ‘Mr. J. P.’
of the 1814 letters.
Notes
[140-2
Henry (nearly 20) and William (18) had left Winchester,
and were, I suppose, visiting their grandmother. There is no
indication that the Great House was occupied at this time
(though it might be used as an overflow? See pp. 403-4).
her praise of Emma . See Opinions .
4 1 like it better than any. . . . Miss Bates is incomparable,
. but I was nearly killed with those precious treasures! They
are Unique, & really with more fun than I can express.
I am at Highbury all day, & I can't help feeling I have just
got into a new set of acquaintance. No one writes such good
sense. & so very comfortable.'
481. her girlish days . A letter from one of her daughters
(to Cholmeley, son of J. E. A. L.) reveals that Anna ‘being dull
when her brother went to school got engaged to Michael Terry,
a good looking neighbour — to the displeasure of . . , her parents.
Later she broke it off — also to their displeasure.’
Miss C, : perhaps Clewes.
141 . Fanny Knight . Thur. 13 March 1817
483. Fanny : probably Plumtre.
484. we fear something else . Cf. p. 488: ‘not a chance of
escape’ ; but the next child was not born until May 1818.
your Aunt Harriot : Mrs. Moore.
485.
the race of Pagets . There is no evidence that J. A. had
any acquaintance with Lord Anglesey’s family; but one
brother of the first marquis, Hon. Sir Arthur (1771-1840)
married 1808 ‘Lady Augusta Fane, divorced wife of Lord
Boringdon, at Hackfield, Hants’ (Gent. Mag.); and another
brother, Hon. Charles, was living at Fareham in 1807. (Lord
Boringdon’s second wife was J. A.’s correspondent Lady
Morley.)
142. Fanny Knight . Sun. 23 March 1817
486. Mr. Wildman's conversation is not recorded in the
Opinions on M. P. and Emma. Perhaps he was made to begin
at the beginning with S . and S.
488. the event at Scarlets : Mr. Leigh Perrot’s death.
142 - 5 ] Notes
489. how Canterbury looks in the direction. Mr. E. V. Hewkin
of the G.P.O. kindly informs me that
* • • • there is no trace in the records here, of the route which
would be taken by letters in transit between Chawton, Hants
and Godmersham, Kent, in the year 1817. In all probability
such letters would circulate via London. Although “Fever-
sham” was the correct address for letters for Godmersham,
it appears to have been the practice of residents in the
district to have their correspondence addressed ‘ ‘Canter-
bury” in spite of the fact that this entailed an extra penny
postage. The advantage of the arrangement was that while
letters addressed Canterbury were conveyed to addressees
on the road to Ashford by a private van, those addressed
“Feversham” had to be sent for.’
I note that Cassandra’s letter to Fanny from Winchester (see
Appendix), and one (but only one) of J. A.’s letters from London
to Godmersham, are directed to Canterbury.
143. Caroline Austen. Wed. 26 March 1817
490. opportunities. Henry had been taking occasional duty
at Chawton, and perhaps also at Steventon, for James’s health
was failing (he died 1819).
491. I will be better. J. A.’s use of shall and will is strict. This
is a promise.
144. Charles Austen. Sun. 6 Apr. 1817
491. my Uncle's Will. Mr. L. P. left everything to his wife
for her life, with the reversion of a large sum to James Austen
and his heirs, and of £1,000 each to those of Mrs. Austen’s
younger children who should survive Mrs. L. P. (Life 385.)
145. Anne Sharp. Thur. 22 May 1817
My text depends on a photograph of the original. It should
be noted, in justice to Miss Sharp’s sense of humour, that, in
spite of her admiration for the moral tendency of M. P., she
owned her preference for P. & P. (Opinions).
494. your Eliza. Had Miss S. adopted a daughter?
Galigai de Concini: Eleonore G., a maid of honour to
Notes
[145-8
Marie de Mddicis, married Concino Concini, and was burned
as a sorceress in 1617. When one of her judges asked her what
charm she had put on her mistress, she replied : ‘ Mon sortilege
a ete le pouvoir que les times fortes doivent avoir sur les esprits
faibles’ (Voltaire, Essai sur les Moeurs, eh. 175. I owe the
reference to Mr. L. F. Powell). J. A. may have owed her
knowledge to Lord Chesterfield; see his letter of 30 Apr. (O.S.)
1752.
in lender regret. The words are taken from the first publica-
tion of the letter in The Times. They are not legible in my
photograph, but may well be in the original, which I have
not seen. It is torn at this point, and perhaps creased. There is
room for the words, and the photograph shows what may be
gret.
147. May 1817
This is J. A.’s last known letter, and the first to be published.
Its publication with Northanger Abbey suggests that the
recipient may have been Henry Austen. But Captain
looks like Capt. Clement of Chawton, whom H. A. must have
known well enough.
148. Miss Prowling, n.d.
I have placed this letter here to avoid conjectural dating.
The watermark is 1813, and the book sent was no doubt M. P.
or Emma. I cannot identify our poor friend, but I do not
know the date of Miss Bcnn’s death ; she is frequent in the
Chawton letters up to 116 (Nov. 1815) but then disappears.
74.1. Martha Lloyd. Sun. 29 Nov. 1812
This letter was received too late to be correctly placed or
included in the numerical series. The notes on it follow those
on 74.
78.1. Martha Lloyd. Tu. 16 Feb. 1813; see next page.
NOTES: ADDENDA
28 (97). I had said ‘always’; but a letter in Times Lit
Suppt. 26 Jan. 1983 (M. Joan Sargeaunt) reminded me of the
passage in M.P. where Mary is glad that Tom Bertram is ab-
sent, so that his younger brother ‘ may be Mr. Bertram again
39 (140). James Selby. Miss Tallmadge points out that he is
Harriet Byron’s ‘cousin James Selby’ in Grandison (1754, vi.
59, 75), who was ‘on a sudden very earnest to go abroad ; as if,
silly youth, travelling would make him a Sir Charles Grandison \
72 (280). Gloucester House. I owe to Miss Winifred Watson
the discovery that I was on a wrong tack. The house is no
doubt G. House at Weymouth. The king and queen, with them
Fanny Burney, stayed there in 1789 (Diary, 1842, V. 32).
78.1 (503). George &c.: Knight.
(504). Mrs. D. D. ( = Your friend): Deans Dundas.
(504). Northamptonshire. We now know that Mansfield Park
may be identified with Cottesbrooke in that county, with whose
owner Sir James Langham Henry was acquainted; see my
Jane Austen, 1948, 82—4, and references there to Times Lit.
Suppt. and Country Life.
141.1 (507).
The date is ascertained by J. A ,’s record that on 7 March
1817 she received £19. 13s. Od. for the second edition of S.S.
Craven Exhibition. In spite of nobler ambition J. E. A.
became this year Craven Scholar.
Mary Jane, Cassy : daughters of Frank and Charles respec-
tively. Aunt F. is Mrs. Frank, then staying (for the most part)
at Alton, not Mrs. Charles (Frances), who was in Keppel St.
149 (508). The provenance of this scrap makes it likely that
it is part of a letter to Caroline Austen as a child. The two
brothers are probably James and Henry, dining at Edward’s
house at Chawton ; or possibly Edward himself and one of the
two others. The rest of the letter may have been cut away and
given to an autograph collector. This happened to other letters.
INDEXES
I. JANE AUSTEN’S FAMILY
II. OTHER PERSONS
III. PLACES
IV. GENERAL TOPICS
V. AUTHORS, BOOKS, PLAYS
VI. JANE AUSTEN’S NOVELS
VII. JANE AUSTEN’S ENGLISH
VIII. NAMES OF SHIPS
I. JANE AUSTEN’S FAMILY
References are to the numbers of the letters (or, within brackets
to the pages). 9
In this index the generations are thus distinguished :
AUSTEN, GEORGE
AUSTEN, JAMES
Austen, James Edward
Lefroy, Anna Jemima
For collateral Austens, Leighs, &c., see Index II.
AUSTEN , Rev. GEORGE , 1 May 1731-21 Jan. 1805, s. of William
A., surgeon ; scholar 1747 and fellow 1751 of St. John’s Coll. Oxon. ;
rector of Steventon, Hants, from 1761, and of Deane, Hants, from
( ?)1773 to 1805; m. 26 Apr. 1764 at Walcot, Bath, Cassandra
Leigh, q.v. ; 6 s. 2 d. ; buried at Walcot
1798: 10-12, 14 (24, 27, 32, 36 interest in pigs, 37, 38, 89 reads
Cowper to us)
1799: 18 (57, 58)
1800: 25, 27 (82, 93)
1801 : 29—31, 36—8 (99, 100, 101, 103 his income, 105 the curacy of
Deane, 106, 109, 110, 111 ‘above 500 volumes’ for sale, 126
at Godmersham, 129, 131 at Kintbury, 135)
1804: 39 (141 at Lyme)
1805: 40 and 41 passim , 42, 43 (147, 149 his peaceful end)
75 (293 his interest in scholarship)
AUSTEN, CASSANDRA, 26 Sept. 1739-1827, y. d. of Rev.
Thomas Leigh of Harpsden (who d. 1763 ; for his other children
see James Leigh Perrot and Jane Cooper) ; m. 26 Apr. 1764 Rev.
George A., q.v.
1796: 1, 4, 7 (3, 10, 18)
1798: 9-15 (20 leaves Godmersham, 21, 22 her health, 23, 24, 26
health, 27, 28, 30, 31, 33, 34 ‘her entree into the dressing-
room’, 36, 38, 39 imaginary ailments, 46 plans a hen-house)
1799: 18-21 (55, 57 health, 58 match-making, 60, 61, 63, 67)
1800: 25, 27, 28 (82, 83, 93, 96, 98)
1801 : 29, 31, 33—8 (99 two maids, ‘my father not in the secret’, 100
avoidance of Trim Street, 101, 102 moves beds to Bath, 103,
109, 110, 111 quite stout, 116, 118, 119, 123, 125, 126, 129,
* 132, 138)
References are to the numbers of the letters
/. Jane Austen's Family
1804: 89 (189 pool of commerce, 140, 141)
1805: 40, 42-7 (145 the shock, 140, 147, 148, 149, 151, 152, 153
156, 159, 165 love of tidiness, 170 sure to be happy with
Martha)
1807 : 48-50 (171, 173 and 174 her finances, 177, 182, 184)
1808: 51-5, 58-62 (192, 193, 198, 199, 200, 201, 207, 210 guessing
the names, 211 garden, 212 curing hams, 218 no ailments,
though a wet Sunday, 223, 224, 226, 227 talking of a house
at Wye, 229, 231 reconciled to a manservant, 232, 238, 239,
243, 244)
1809: 63-6 (246, 252, 256, 262)
1811: 70, 72-4 (275, 281, 283, 285, 287 not overpower’d by her
Cleft Wood, 289, 290, 291)
1813: 75, 77-9, 83-5, 87, 88, 90 (292 reading, 294, 296, 299 ‘too
rapid way of getting on 1 in reading P. and P. aloud, 300, 302,
303, 308, 325 no more in need of Leeches, 327, 329 every
dinner-invitation he refuses will give her an indigestion, 334
Mrs. Cooke’s diagnosis, 337, 352 in agonies (Mary’s blue
gown), 356, 357, 358, 367); 78.1.
1814: 92, 94, 95, 97, 100, 101 (377, 885, 387, 390, 392, 400 disturbed
at Mrs. F.’s not returning the visit sooner, 402 making shoes
for Anna, 403 her interest in Anna’s MS.)
1815: 110, 112, 118 (424, 428, 440 weather too good to agree with
her)
1816: 128, 130, 132, 134, 135 (454 Mrs. E. Leigh’s legacy, 457, 462,
469, 470)
1817 : 139, 144, 145 (475, 492 bears the shock of her brother’s will
‘extremely well’, 495 4 suffered much for me , . . but is
tolerably well’)
I. AUSTEN, JAMES, 13 Feb. 1765-1819, e.s. of Rev. George A, ;
scholar 1779 of St. John’s Coll. Oxon. ; curate at Overton, and at
Deane, Hants; Rector of Steventon, Hants, 1805-19; m. (1)
27 Mar. 1792 at Laverstoke, Anne, d. of General and Lady Jane
Mathew, who d. 3 May 1795 ; 1 d. ; (2) 17 Jan, 1797 at Hurst-
bourne Tarrant, Mary y.d. of Rev. Nowes Lloyd ; 1 s. 1 d.
1790: 1 (1, 3) 2 (5) 5 (11) 6 (15)
1798: 10-15 (23, 25, 27, 30, 31, 35, 41, 46)
1799: 18, 21 (55, 68)
1800: 23-5, 27 (75, 81, 83, 84, 93)
1801: 29-31, 83, 34, 36 (99, 101, 107, 109, 110, 111, 118, 121, 126)
1805: 40, 41, 44 (145, 146, 154)
(or, within brackets , to the pages).
Qq
I. J ane Austen’s Family
1807: 48, 49 (172, 173, 174, 176, 181)
1808 : 51-5, 60-2 (186, 188, 189, 192, 195, 197, 202, 203, 205, 206
207, 208, 210, 232, 237, 238, 241)
1809 : 64 (250)
1811: 69 (271)
1812: 74.1 (501)
1813: 76, 82, 87, 89 (297, 325, 354, 863)
1814: 92, 98, 99, 104 (376, 394, 397, 398, 399, 412)
1815 : 112 (428)
1816: 128, 130, 133, 134 (454, 455, 457, 459, 465, 467, 469)
1817: 139, 145, 146 (475, 494, 496)
AUSTEN, ANNE, 1st w. of James A., q.v. ; 27 (91), 90 (367)
1. Austen, Jane Anna Elizabeth, 1793-1872, e.d. of James A. (and
0. c. of his 1st wife), b. Laverstoke 15 Apr. 1793, m. 8 Nov. 1814
at Steventon, Ben Lefroy, q.v. in Index II ; 1 s. 6 d. :
1796 : 2 (5, 6), 4 (10)
1798 : 13 (35 note)
1799 : 18, 20, 21 (55, 56, 62, 68)
1800: 24 (81)
1801 : 30 (107)
1808: 51-4, 61, 62 (189, 191, 192, 194, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202
204, 206, 207, 238, 241, 242)
1809: 63-5 (249, 250, 257, 258)
1811: 70-4 (275 an A. with variations, 279, 281, 282, 283, 285,
287, 289, 291)
1813 : 75, 78, 83, 85, 86, 89, 90 (296, 302, 303, 328, 840 her
engagement, 341, 343, 363, 367 an A. sent away and an A.
fetched are different things), 78.1 (instability)
1814: 100-2 (letters to her), 103 (411), 104-5 (to her), 106 (416),
107-9 (to her)
1815: 110 (to her), 117 (436), 118 (441), 124 (to her)
1816: 129 (to her), 133 (465), 134 (469), 135 (to her)
1817 : 137, 139-42 (471, 475, 476, 481 as if she had never had
a wicked Thought in her Life, 488 Poor Animal)
1. Lefroy , Anna Jemima, 20 Oct. 1815, e.d. of Ben and Anna L.:
124, 139, 141.
ii. Lefroy, Julia Cassandra, 27 Sept. 1816, 2nd d. of Ben and
Anna L.: 139, 141
AUSTEN, MARY, -1843, 2nd w. of James A., q.v.
1796: 1, 2, 5-7 (1, 4, 6, 11, 15, 18 the Lloyds)
1798: 10-14 (23, 25, 29, 80, 31, 33, 34, 35, 38, 40)
1799: 17-21 (49, 50, 55, 56, 60, 61, 62, 68, 69)
References are to the numbers of the letters
I. J ane Austen's Family
1800: 28-7 (75, 79, 81, 82, 84, 88, 92, 98)
1801 : 29-38, 80 (99, 100, 108, 109, 110, 111, 114, 117, 119, 120, 128)
1805: 43 (149, 150)
1807: 48-50 (171, 173, 170, 181, 185)
1808: 51-5, 57-9, 01, 02 (187, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195,
198, 200, 202, 203, 204, 205, 210, 219, 228, 220, 227, 237, 241)
1809: 64 — 0 (250, 257, 261)
1818: 75, 76, 84, 87, 89, 91 (295, 290, 297, 329, 852?, 863, 871,
372)
1816: 128, 128.1, 129, 130, 132-4 (455, 456, 457, 458, 462, 404,
460, 467, 468)
1817: 138, 145, 146 (474, 494, 496)
2. Austen (-Leigh 1837), Rev. James Edward, 1798-1874, o.s. of
James A. ; b. Deane 17 Nov. 1798 ; commoner of Winchester
1814-16 ; Exeter Coll. Oxon. ; Vicar of Bray 1851 ; author of the
Memnr 1870; in his youth usually ‘Edward’:
1798: 11, 12, 15 (29, 30, 31, 46 the christening)
1799: 17, 18, 21 (50, 55, 68)
1800 : 28 (98)
1801 : 33 (117)
1808 : 51, 52, 54, 62 (188 little E., 191, 195, 197, 205, 241 Edward
A.’s godson, 242)
1813: 77, 78 (301, 302)
1814: 99 (397, 398, 399), 104 (413)
1816: 125 (450), 130 (letter to him), 131-3 (460, 461, 462 his
novel, 464, 465, 466, 467), 134 (to him)
1817: 137 (471, 472 his novel, 473), 139 (475 his virtues, 476),
141.1 (his novel), 142 (489), 143 (490 his beauty), 146 (to
him at Oxford)
3. Austen, Caroline Mary Craven, 1805-80, y.d. of James A.;
b. Steventon 18 June 1805 ; god-d. of Cassandra A. ; author of
unpublished Reminiscences :
1807: 48 (173, 175)
1808: 51, 52, 54 (189, 190, 191, 194, 197, 205)
1813: 76 (299)
1815: 112 (letter to her), 117 (439), 119 (to her)
1816: 125, 128, 128.1, 131 (to her), 132 (462), 133 (467), 134
1817 : 137, 138, 141.1 (to her ; her Gentleman Quack), 143 (to her)
II. AUSTEN, GEORGE, 1766-1838, 2nd s. of George A., is not
mentioned in the Letters.
III. AUSTEN (KNIGHT 1812), EDWARD, 7 Oct. 1768-1852, 3rd s.
(or, within brackets, to the pages).
I. Jane Austen * if Family
° f G rif A ' 5 0f Godmersham Park, Kent, and Chawton, Hants ;
m. 27 Dec. 1791, Elizabeth, 3rd d. of Sir Brook Bridges III*
6s. 5 d.: *
1790 in London 3; at Rowling 4-7 (8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17)
1798 at Godmersham 11-16 (29, 31, 32, 36, 38, 39, 44, 46, 47)
1799 at Godmersham 17—18 (49, 51 his estate, 57); at Bath 19-
22 (61 going out to taste a cheese, 63, 66, 68, 70, 71, 72)
1800 at Godmersham 23-7 (74, 75, 76, 79, 80, 82, 85, 88, 94)
1801 at Godmersham 29, 31, 33 (101, 109, 118)
1805 at Godmersham 43, 45-7 (149, 153, 161, 165, 167, 169)
1808 at Godmersham 51—62 passim
1809 at Godmersham 63, 64, 66 (246, 250, 261, 262)
1811 at Godmersham 70, 71, 73 (272, 276, 279, 281, 286)
1812 at Chawton Cottage 74.1 (500 change of name)
1813 at Godmersham 78 (303) ; at Chawton (April-Sept. 337, 341):
80, 81 (313, 314, 315, 317, 318) ; in London 82, 83 (319, 321,
326, 328) ; at Godmersham 84—91 passim
1814 in London 92-4 (376 ?, 379-85) ; at Chawton 96, 97 (388-90) ;
103, 104 (411—13); in London 105 (415); at Godmersham
106 (416)
1815 at Godmersham 111 (427); at Chawton 116-18 (483, 434,
436, 440)
1816: 132 (461)
1817: 142 (486)
AUSTEN, ELIZABETH, 23 May 1773-10 Oct. 1808, w. of Edward
A., q.v. :
1796:4-6 (8, 11, 14)
1798: 12-14 (31, 85, 38, 39)
1799: 17-21 passim
1800: 23, 26 (74, 88)
1801: 32, 33, 36 (114, 118, 126)
1805 : 45—7 passim
1807: 48, 50 (170, 182)
1808: 51—7 passim ; her wedding-day 62 (242)
1. Austen (Knight), Fanny Catherine (‘Fag’ p. 73), 23 Jan. 1793-
1882, e.d. of Edward A. ; m. 1820 Sir Edward Knatchbull Bt.
of Mersham Hatch, Kent (their son the first Lord Brabourne
edited 1884 the letters of J. A. in his mother’s possession):
1796 : 4 (9)
1798: 10 (26)
1799: 18, 19, 21-2 (55, 58, 59, 68, 70, 73 her letter to C. E. A.)
1800 : 25 (87)
References are to the numbers of the letters
I. Jane Austen's Family
1801 : 82 (115)
1805:46 (161)
1807: 48, 50 (172, 188)
1808: 51-4, 56-9 passim (217 almost another Sister)
1800 : 63-6 (246, 254, 255, 259)
1811 : 69-74 (269, 274, 277, 278, 279, 283, 286, 289, 291)
1813: 78 (303), 80 (309, 312), 82-5 passim, 87-91 passim
1814: 93-4 passim, 90, 97, 99 (388, 890, 897), 103 and 100 to her
1815: 116-18 passim
1816: 128, 132 (454, 461)
1817 : 140-2 letters to her
2. Austen (Knight), Edward, 10 May 1794-1879, e.s. of Edward
A. ; commoner of Winchester 1807-11 ; St. John’s Coll. Oxon.
1811:
1796: 5 (13) ; 1798: 10, 12 (26, 33) ; 1799: 19, 21, 22 (59, 68, 70,
73 his letter to C. E. A.) ; 1800 : 23 (74) ; 1805 : 45-7 (161,
166,167); 1807:49(180); 1808:51-4(188,193,199,209),
56-8 passim, 62 (244); 1809: 63-5 (247, 252, 256); 1813:
78, 81, 83-6, 88, 91 (303, 315, 326, 331, 338, 344, 357, 358,
374); 1814: 103-6, 116 (412, 413, 415, 418, 420, 433, 434);
1816: 128 (454); 1817: 140 (481)
8. Austen (Knight), George, 22 Nov. 1795-1867, 2nd s. of Edward
A. ; commoner of Winchester 1808-12 ; St. John’s Coll. Oxon.
1813:
1796: 4 (9); 1798 : 9-11, 14 (22, 24, 26, 30, 38); 1799: 17, 19
(51, 61); 1800 : 23, 24, 27 (74, 81, 94?); 1801: 30 (107);
1805: 45, 47 (161, 167); 1808: 54 (208), 56-9 passim, 62
(244); 1813: 78.1 (503), 81 (315), 84r-8 passim, 91 (374)
4. Austen (Knight), Henry, 27 May 1797-1843, 3rd s. of Edward
A.; commoner of Winchester 1810-14: 19 (61), 45 (161), 47
(167), 62 (244), 74, 78.1 (503), 81, 86, 97, 104?, 130, 140, 142
5. Austen (Knight), William, 10 Oct. 1798-, 4th s. of Edward
A.; commoner of Winchester 1813-14: 11 (30 baby), 19 (61),
45, 51, 63, 64 (249), 74.1, 78.1 (503), 81, 87, 97, 104?, 130, 140,
141, 142, 146
6. Austen (Knight), Elizabeth (Lizzy), 27 Jan. 1800- , 2nd
d. of Edward A. : 45, 46, 48, 50, 51, 52, 54, 58, 65, 74.1, 82-6, 88,
90, 116, 140
7. Austen (Knight), Marianne, 15 Sept. 1801-96, 3rd d. of Edward
A.: 46, 51, 54, 63, 65, 82-5, 90
8. Austen (Knight), Charles Bridges, 11 Mar. 1803-67, 5th s. of
Edward A. ; commoner of Winchester 1816-20: 51, 81, 134, 146
(or, within brackets, to the pages).
I. Jane Austen’s Family
9. Austen (Knight), Louisa, 13 Nov. 1804-89, 4th d. of Edward
A. ; J. A. s. god-d. (Brabourne, ii. 341) : 51, 55, 84, 86, 88
10. Austen (Knight), Cassandra Jane, 16 Nov. 1806-42 5th d nf
Edward A. : 50 (182), 51, 63, 79 (307), 88, 140
11. Austen (Knight), Brook John, 28 Sept. 1808-78 6th s nf
Edward A. : 55, 58, 60 *
IV. AUSTEN, Rev. HENRY THOMAS, (bapt.) 8 June 1771-1850
4th s. of George A. ; scholar 1788 of St. John’s Coll. Oxon ’
Lieutenant Oxford Militia 1793, Captain and Adjutant 1797 ’
Partner in Austen, Maunde and Tilson, bankers of 10 Henrietta-
street, Covent Garden, 1807—16, and in Austen, Gray and Vincent
bankers of Alton, Hants ; Receiver-General for Oxfordshire 1813 •
bankrupt March 1816 ; took orders and became curate of Bentley
near Alton, Dec. 1816 ; m. (1) 31 Dec. 1797 his cousin Eliza, a.v. *
(2) 1820, Eleanor Jackson ’
1796 : 1, 3-7 (2 his Master’s degree, 7 his attentions to Miss Pearson
(cf. 16, and 180 note), 8 at Rowling, 9, 11, 12, 15, 18)
1798 : 12 (31 his affairs, i.e. the militia)
1799: 18 (54)
1800: 27 (92, 95)
1801: 29, 30, 33, 34 (99 as agreeable as ever, 104, 107, 118 his
office in Cleveland Court, 119 his house 24 Upper Berkeley
Street, cf. 120 and 121) y
1804: 39 (139 opinion of Weymouth)
1805: 40, 43, 45, 46 (145 note, Brompton, 152 cannot help being
amusing, 153 rambles in 1804, 161, 162 his office in the Albany,
163 at Godmersham)
1808: 51-62 (186, 189, 191, 196, 199, 203, 206, 207, 208, 210, 212,
217, 219 at Godmersham, 220, 223, 224, 229, 232, 238, 244 at
Godmersham)
1809 : 63-5 (248 the progress of the bank, 250, 254 at Godmersham)
1811: 69-71, 74 (267 J. A. stays with him at 64 Sloane Street,
268 Life & Wit, 269, 271 his office in Henrietta Street, 273,
275, 276, 277 at Oxford, 278, 288 his Gig, 289 at Chawton)
1812:74.1(501)
1813: 75-7, 79-85, 88-91 (292, 297 sends early copies of P. andP.,
301 at Oxford, 305 drives J. A. from Chawton to Sloane St.,
308, 309 No. 10 Henrietta St. all dirt & confusion (in prepara-
tion for his living there cf. 311), 313, 315 his promotion to be
Receiver-General for Oxfordshire, his scheme for Scotland,
his Mind not a Mind for affliction, 318 J. A. stays with him at
References are to the numbers of the letters
I. Jane Austen's Family
10 Henrietta St. cf. 887, 819, 320 stays with Warren Hastings
at Daylesford, 320 plans for Chawton and Oxfordshire cf. 321,
361 and 864, 323 his November collection cf. 426, 324 a new
clerk sent down to Alton, 325, 326, 332, 338 his enjoyment of
Roxburghshire, 840 reveals the authorship of P. and P., 353,
355 Cassandra stays with him in Henrietta St., 358, 359, 363,
364 his illness cf. 373, 368 his carriage, 369, 373, 374); 78.1
1814: 92-4, 97, 99, 103, 105, 106, 109 (375 J. A. with him in
Henrietta St., 370, 877, 378, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386,
390 at White's, 391, 396 J, A. with him at 23 Hans Place, 397,
398 office in Henrietta St. cf. 327, 399 likely to marry again,
411, 414 to take J. A. to Chawton, 415, 418, 419, 423)
1815: 110, 111, 114-18 (424 J. A. with him in Hans Place, 425 his
illness cf. 426, 427, 431, 432, 433, 434 Business to worry him,
435, 436, 437 convalescence, 439, 440, 441)
1816: 125, 127, 128, 130, 132-4 (450 at Chawton Cottage, 453 the
late event in Henrietta Street, i.e. the bankruptcy, 454 at
Godmersham, 458, 459 to visit France ?, 461 at Godmersham,
decided for Orders (see note), 463, 468 writes very superior
Sermons, 469)
1817: 139, 140, 142, 143, 146 (470 to assist Mr. Papillon on Sunday
. . . ease and collectedness, 481 preaching at Chawton, 482,
487, 489 London hateful to him, 490, 496 attends her journey
to Winchester)
AUSTEN, ELIZA, 22 Dec. 1761-25 Apr. 1813, o. d. of Tysoe Saul
Hancock of Fort St. David (Madras) and of Philadelphia, o.s.
of George Austen; m. (1) 1781 Jean Capotte Comte de Feuillide
(guillotined 1794); 1 s., Hastings, 1786-1801; (2) 31 Dec. 1797,
Henry Thomas Austen: 18 (55), 39 (139), 43 (153), 51 (191), 55
(210), 62 (244), 63 (248), 69-71 passim 81 (315), 82 (319, 324)
V. AUSTEN, CASSANDRA ELIZABETH, 9 Jan. 1773-1845, e.d.
of George A. ; engaged ( ?1795) to Rev. Thomas Fowle (q.v.), who
d. Feb. 1797. (Such of the events of her life as are known from her
sister’s letters can be easily traced, and are not here set out)
Her engagement, ‘making your wedding-clothes' (p. 10, Sept.
1796, and see p. 5, note, and p. 14), her comic powers (p. 8) ; her
drawing (101) ; ‘scraps of Italian and French '(135) ; charades (298) ;
her starched notions (300) ; ‘does not like desultory novels' (395) ;
‘my tender, watchful, indefatigable nurse 140-7 passim
VI. AUSTEN, Sir FRANCIS WILLIAM, 23 Apr. 1774-1865, 5th
(or, within bracket$ f to the pages)*
I. J ane Austen's Family
s. of George A. ; G.C.B. (K.C.B. 1837), Admiral of the Fleet •
m. (1) at Ramsgate 24 July 1800, Mary, e.d. of John Gibson’
who d. 1823 ; 0 s. 5 d. ; (2) 1828, Martha Lloyd, q.v.
Childhood: 08 (see note)
1792: Lieutenant R.N.
1790: London and Rowling 3-7 (7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15 ‘Fly’, 10, 17
appointment to the frigate Triton, 18)
1798: off Cadiz in H.M.S. London 13-10 (33, 30, 38, 41, 42, 47
promoted to Commander and appointed to sloop Petterel )
1799:17,18,20(51,50,65)
1800: off Cyprus 24, 25, 27 (78, 87, 94; promoted to post rank in
( ?) April)
1801 : 32-5 (112 ‘thrust out of the Petterel’, 118, 120, 124) ; 38-8 in
Kent (126, 130, 135)
1805: 40-1 letters to him in Leopard at Portsmouth; 43-5 in the
Mediterranean, Canopus (153, 157, 161, 162 his engagement)
1807 : at Southampton 48-50 (172, 174, 177, 178, 180, 184 still
unemployed; appointed to St. Albans, then at Sheerness, in
April)
1808: 52-5 (196 St. Albans expected — from St. Helena, 199, 203,
204 his return, 206 St. Albans in the Downes, 208, 212 at
Yarmouth) ; 59-63 (226 St. Albans sailed, 230, 233 end of a
visit to Southampton, 234, 240 at Portsmouth, 241, 246 dis-
embarcation of Sir John Moore’s army, superintended
by F. W. A. in Jan, 1809)
1809: 63, 65, 68 (248 at Portsmouth, 256, 264; St. Albans ordered
to China in April)
1811: at Cowes, May (Dec. 1810-May 1811, Flag-captain to Lord
Gambier in Caledonia) ; 69—74 (270 superseded in Caledonia ,
272, 281, 284, 288 invited to Chawton)
1813: 76 (297 at Portsmouth) ; 81, 85 letters to him with Elephant
in the Baltic; 86 (344, 845) ; 91 (374); 78,1 (504) at Deal
1814: 93 (382); 97 (390 at Portsmouth, 392)
1815 : at Chawton Manor 111, 117 (427, 438)
1816: at Alton 130, 133 (457, 464, 465)
1817: at Alton 137, 140, 142, 144 (473, 482, 489, 491)
AUSTEN, MARY (Gibson), ‘Mrs. F. A.\ 1st w. of Francis A.:
1805:43(153)
1807 : at Southampton 48-50 (171-86)
1808 : at Yarmouth, I. of Wight 51-6 (190, 199, 203, 204, 206, 207,
212, 215) ; 60-2 (233-5, 240 at Portsmouth, 241)
1809: 63, 65, 68 (245, 256, 264)
References are to the numbers of the letters
I. J ane Austen's Family
1811 : at Cowes 72-4 (281, 284, 288)
1813: 81 (813), 85 (337 at Deal, 840), 80 (840), 90 (800), 01 (875)
1814: at Chawton 97 (892), 101 (405)
1815: at Chawton 111, 110 (420, 427, 435)
1818 at Alton: 125, 130, 133 (450, 458, 404-5)
1817 at Alton: 137, 140-2, 145 (478, 482, 483, 489, 494)
1. Austen, Mary Jane, b. Southampton 27 Apr. 1807, e.d. of
Francis A.: 51 (190), 52, 53, 60, 68, 85, 99, 105, 117, 125, 128,
130, 131, 141.1
2. Austen, Francis William, b. Alton 12 July 1809, e.s. of Francis
A. : 68, 85 (337), 99, 136
3. Austen, Henry Edgar, b. Portsmouth 21 Apr. 1811, 2nd s. of
Francis A. : 70 (272), 85 (337), 136
4. Austen, George, b. Deal 20 Oct. 1812, 3rd s. of Francis A.: 99,
133, 136
5. Austen, Cassandra Eliza, b. Portsmouth 8 Jan. 1814, 2nd d. of
Francis A. : 130, 131, 136
6. Austen, Herbert Grey, b. Chawton 8 Nov. 1815, 4th s. of
Francis A.: 116, 136
7. Austen, Elizabeth, b. Alton 15 Apr. 1817, 3rd d. of Francis A.:
133 (464), 145 (494)
AUSTEN, MARTHA, -1843, e.d. of Rev. Nowes Lloyd, q.v. in
Index II; 2nd w. (1828) of Francis A.
1796:6,7(16, 18)
1798: 10, 14, 15 (23, 24, 40 removal from Ibthrop, 41, 42 happiness
to Martha, 45 at Deane, 46 they continue at Ibthrop)
1799: 17, 18, 20-2 (50, 54, 58, 62, 65, 66 to spend the summer at
Steventon, 67 reads ‘First Impressions’, 70)
1800 : 24-8, 26 a letter to her (81 at Kintbury and Ibthrop, 85 at
Steventon, 87 J. A. to visit Ibthrop cf. 92 and 96-7, 98
to return with J. A. to Steventon)
1801 : 29-33, 35, 37, 38 (99 Miss Lloyd, see note, 102 to be at Steven-
ton again cf. 103, 105, 106 return to Ibthrop, 108, 113 to be at
Deane, 119, 123, 125, 133 her elegance, 134 to visit Chilton)
1804: 39 (139, 142 at Bath, 143)
1805: 43, 44, 47 (150 Mrs. Lloyd’s death, 154, 157 our intended
partnership with Martha, 170 at Bath with Mrs. Austen)
1807: 48-50 (175 at Kintbury, 176 Deane and Eversley, 177 will
marry Peter Debary, 184 her room, 185, 186)
1808: 52-62 passim , at Southampton (199, 207, 213 and 217 her
visit to the Island with Mrs Craven)
1809: 64-6 at Southampton (251 M. and Dr. Mant as bad as ever f
(or, within brackets , to the pages)*
I. Jane Austen's Family
253, 254, 258 immoral attachment, 261 to be in Town with
Mrs. Dundas)
1811 : 70, 72-4 (275 at Chawton, 284 in London cf. 288 and 2901
1812 : 74.1 to her at Barton '
1813: 75 and 76 at Steventon, 77, 79, 83-8 at Chawton (295, 299
300 at Barton ?, 308 a legacy cf. 391, 328, 335 Races, 337. 345’
353, 357 Miss Floyd); 78.1 to her
1814: 92, 94, 97, 103 (377, 385 at Chawton, 391 her legacy, to visit
the Deans Dundases at Clifton, 412 her return to Chawtonl
1815: 111, 116, 117 (426, 427, 435, 436)
1816: 130, 132, 133 (458 in London, 462 at Chawton, 467)
1817: 140, 145, 146 (482 at Chawton, 495, 497 with J. A. at Win-
Chester)
VII. AUSTEN, JANE, b. Steventon 16 Dec. 1775, d. Winchester
18 July 1817, y.d. of George A. ; see Indexes IV, VI, VII for her
Novels, her Vocabulary, and her Opinions
References to events before 1796
Schooldays : (8 ; see Life 26)
Visit to Gloucestershire with C. E. A. : (123, see note)
1793, ?Dec: dancing at Southampton (236)
1794, summer: in Kent, perhaps Rowling, with C. E. A. (168
October; 186 ‘our hot journey into Kent’)
1796— May 1801; Steventon
1796, Aug.: 3 in Cork Street; Sept.: 4-7 at Rowling with the
Edward Austens
1797, Nov.: at Bath with the Leigh-Perrots (26, 59, 60, 148)
1798, Oct.: 9 end of a visit at Godmersham with the Edward
Austens, cf. 13 (33)
1799, Jan.: 18 (58) plan to visit the Lloyds at Ibthrop in Feb.;
May— June : 19-22 at 13 Queen Square, Bath, with the
Edward Austens ; Summer : ? at Godmersham 17(50) ; Nov.:
28 at Ibthrop with the Lloyds
1801, Jan.: 29-33 plans for a house in Bath; Mr. A.’s income
(103) ; sale of Steventon furniture and books (109, 111, cf. 126,
128, 133) ; ‘a tall woman’ (116) ; Feb.; 34 at Manydown
May 1801— July 1805: Both (4 Sidney Terrace)
1801, May: 35-8 staying (with Mrs. A.) in Paragon with the
Leigh-Perrots while house-hunting ; Summer : at Sidmouth
(101, 107 cf. 118, 132; see Life , 90, 172 and Thomson,
Survey 202)
References are to the numbers of the letters
/. Jane Austen's Family
1802, Summer: at Dawlish (85 the D. scheme, 303 j see Life 173) ;
Nov. : at Stcventon with C. E. A. ( Life 92)
1803: at Ramsgate? (351 suggests that J. A. knew R.; and see
Life 174) ; Nov. : ? at Lyme (216)
1804, Summer: rambles with the Henry Austens (153, cf. 138
C. E. A. at Weymouth) ; Sept. : 89 at Lyme with Mr. and
Mrs. A,
1805, Jan. : 40-2 in Green Park Buildings (Mr. A.’s death) ; April :
43—4 at 25 Gay Street (157 intended Partnership with Martha,
cf. 170) ; Aug. : 45 at Godmersham, 40-7 at Goodnestone
[1806, April: at Trim St., Bath; July-Aug., at Adlcstrop and
Stoneleigh; Life, 191, 194.]
July 1806-April 1809: Southampton
1806, July 2: the A.s left Bath for Clifton ‘with what happy feel-
ings of escape!’ (208)
1807, Jan.-Feb.: 48-50 in lodgings at Southampton with Mrs. A. ;
preparations in Castle Square (‘Our garden is putting in
order’ 178, ‘our removal’ 183); Sept.: at Chawton House
(187; see Life 203)
1808, June: in Brompton with the Henry Austens (191 saw the
ladies go to Court, 197 and 209 visit at Brompton; see also
145); June: 51—4 at Godmersham; Oct.-Dee.: 55-62 in
Castle Square, Southampton (212 another house there, or a
move to Alton cf. 217, 229 the Chawton plan cf. 226 the
kitchen garden and ‘this proposal’, 227 ‘a house at Wye’, 231
keeping a manservant, 235 ‘our approaching removal’, 243
‘we will have a pianoforte’)
1809, Jan. : 63-6 in Castle Square ; April : the A.s left Southampton
(for Bookham and Godmersham ; 246 gives 3 April as the date,
but see 263 ; and cf. 336)
July 1809-May 1817: Chawton
1809, July: 68 at Chawton Cottage (266 ‘the many comforts’ ; see
note on 281)
1811, April: 69-71 in Sloane Street with the Henry Austens;
2-9 May : at Streatham with the Hills (271 , 277) ; May-June :
72—4 at Chawton
1812, Nov. : 74.1 at Chawton
1813, Jan.— Feb. : 75-8 at Chawton ; May: 79-80 in Sloane Street ;
July: 81 at Chawton; 15 Sept.: 82-3 at 10 Henrietta Street
(or, within brackets, to the pages).
J. Jane Austen 9 s Family
with Henry A. (for two days 337) ; 17 Sept.-13 Nov. : 84-91
at Godmersham; Nov.:? at 10 Henrietta Street (342, 361
365, 374) ’
1814, March : 92-4 at 10 Henrietta Street ; April : ? at Streatham
(383, 387) ; June, Aug. : 95-8 at Chawton ; 24 June- ? July:
at Bookham with the Cookes (389, 390) ; Aug. : 99 at 23 Hans
Place with Henry A. ; Sept., Nov.: 100-^ at Chawton; Nov.-
5 Dec.: 105-7, 109, at 23 Hans Place (418 ‘off on Monday’
5 Dec.); 26 Dec.-{?) 14 Jan. 1815: J. A. and C. E. A. at
Winchester (Mrs. Heathcote) and Steventon (Letter from
Mrs. A. in Bellas MS.)
1815, Sept. : 110 at Chawton ; 4 Oct. -16 Dec. : 111-22 at 23 Hans
Place (424 date of starting, 447 return to Chawton)
1816, March, April ; 125-8 at Chawton ; May: at Cheltenham with
C. E. A. (Life 334, following Caroline’s Reminiscences ). They
stopped at Steventon, where they left Cassy, and at Kintbury ;
and in their return at Steventon again, whence they took
Cassy and Caroline to Chawton. Bellas MS.)*, June, July:
129-31 at Chawton ; Sept. : 132-3 at Chawton ; Dec. : 134 at
Chawton
1817, Jan.— May: 136-45 at Chawton
May-July 1817 : Winchester
1817, May: 146 in College Street (496, 24 May)
VIII. AUSTEN, CHARLES JOHN, 23 June 1779-1852, 0th s. of
George A. ; Admiral ; m. (1) 1 May 1807 Frances Fitzwilliam
Palmer, q.v. ; 3 d. ; (2) 1820, her sister Harriet, q.v. in Index II ;
3 s. 1 d.
1796 : 1 (3, the last Charles on this page) 4 (9 at Cork)
1798: 10 (26), 14—16 (38 — he was then lieutenant in Scorpion,
having been commissioned Dec. 1797 — 42, 46, 47 in Tamar)
1799: 17-20 (48, 52, 54 at Steventon, 56, 57, 58 with Capt, Sir
Thomas Williams (q.v. in Index II), Endymion , 63)
1800: 24—7 (80, 81, 84 at Gosport, 87, 89, 90 at Steventon, 92, 94)
1801 : 32, 34, 35, 38 (113 Capt. Durham, q.v. in Index II, 120, 124,
134 at Portsmouth, 137 prize-money)
1804: 39 (140 ; he took command of the Indian sloop in October;
141 E. Indies)
1805: 43, 44, 47 (152, 158, 159, 170; on the North American
station)
1807: 48 (171)
References are to the numbers of the letters
1. Jane Austen* s Family
1808 : 52 (106), 62 (242 in Bermuda, 248)
1809 : 63-5, 68 { 248, 258, 254, 266 expected home)
1811: 69, 70 (270, 275; he arrived in April, in command of
Cleopatra)
1818: 75-91 in command of Namur as Flag-captain to Sir T.
Williams, C.-in-C. at the Nore (206, 297, 304, 808, 812 visit to
Chawton Cottage, 316 at Southend, 330, 337, 845, 350-4
visit to Godmersham, 856-7, 800, 366, 373)
1814: 105-6 (414 in Hans Place, 419 Keppel Street)
1815: 117 (438)
1816: 129, 133, 134 (456, 463, 468-9 at Chawton)
1817: 137, 141, 143 (473, 485, 490), 144 J. A.’s last letter to him
AUSTEN, FRANCES FITZWILLIAM, 1790-6 Sept. 1814, 1st w. of
Charles A.; see Index II s.v. Palmer. ‘She died at the Nore,
where her husband had the Guardship’ — Caroline Austen’s
Reminiscences
1809: 64, 65, 68 (251, 255, 266)
1813: 78, 81, 87-90 (304, 316, 350-60, 366)
1814:100 (402)
1. Austen, Cassandra Esten, b. Bermuda 22 Dec. 1808, e.d. of
Charles A. :
1809:64, 65 (251,255)
1813: 78, 79, 81, 84, 87-90 (304 on board the Namur, 307 little
Cass going to Chawton Cottage cf. 316, 330 not to go to
Chawton, 351 at Godmersham, 352, 854 so very Palmery,
357 (Cassy, not Cass.), 360 return to the Namur, 366 not
to stay at Chawton if she hates it)
1814: 92, 94, 103, 105, 106 (378 at Chawton, 386 to move to
22 Keppel Street, 411 Mr. Palmer gone off with Cassy,
415 Keppel Street, 419 that puss Cassy)
1815: 110-12, 117 (424 at Chawton, 427, 428, 439)
1816: 128, 129 (455 at Chawton, 456)
1817 : 136, 137, 141, 144 (470 letter to her, 472 to return to
Chawton in March as usual, 485 her father cannot spare
her, 492 Keppel Street), 141.1
2. Austen, Harriet Jane, b. Bermuda 19 Feb. 1810, 2nd d. of
Charles A.: 78 (304 ‘Middle’), 81, 106, 137, 138, 141, 142, 143,
144.
8. Austen, Frances Palmer, b. London 1 Dec. 1812, 3rd d. of
Charles A.: 78, 81 (316 all at Southend), 87, 88 (356 little F.),
105, 108, 117, 137.
(or, within brackets, to the pages).
II. OTHER PERSONS
to tt?pages) are to the numbers of the letters (° r * within brackets,
In this index Jane Austen’s relations of the preceding generation
and her own are thus distinguished : n
A USTEN , J OHN (her father’s cousin)
COOKE, GEORGE (her cousin).
Abercrombie, General Sir Ralph,
1734—1801 : 34
Adams, the : 88
Ajax, a horse : 48
‘Alford’, Mrs. and Misses: Cl
Allen, Miss, governess at God-
mersham : 71
Amos, Will : 88
Anderton: Anderdon, Edmund,
apothecary, 4 Queen-square,
Bath : 22
Andrews, Farmer: 117
Andrews, Mrs. (and her daugh-
ter ? Elizabeth) : 96
Anne : 24
Anne, a maid : 43, 56, 59
Anne (a maid?) ‘late of Many-
down’: 11
Anning, tradesman at Lyme : 39
Armstrong, Mr. Mrs. and Miss
(at Lyme): 39; Miss A. (at
Bath — ? the same) 44
Arnold, Misses, of Chippenham:
37
Arnold, Miss; Arnold, Sam;
evidently connected with
Cookes and Leighs : 63, 69
Atkinson, Misses, of En :
presumably dd. of Rev. Arthur
Atkinson, Rector of Knight’s
Enham 1782 (cf. p. 91): 27
AUSTEN , JOHN, -1807,
o.s. of John A. of Broadford
and c. of George A.; m.
Joanna Weeks of Sevenoaks
(d. 1811) ; 1 d., Mary (d. unm.
1803) ; he left his property to
John, 3rd s. of his c. Francis
Motley A., q.v. : 50
AUSTEN, FRANCIS MOT -
LEYy 1747-1815, of Kipping-
ton, Sevenoaks, o.s. of Francis
A. and c. of George A; m.
1772 Elizabeth d. of Sir
Thomas Wilson, who d. 1817;
7 s. (including Thomas and
John, qq.v.) 4d. (including
Frances, q.v.): 36, 50, 82 (322
note), 138
AUSTEN, Col. THOMAS, 1775-
1859, 2nd s. of Francis Motley
A., m. 1803 Margaretta Mor-
land: 81
AUSTEN, Rev. JOHN, 1777-
1851, 3rd s. of Francis Motley
A.; inherited Broadford 1807:
50
AUSTEN, FRANCES, 1783-
, y.d, of Francis Motley
A., m. 1808 Capt. Holcroft
R. A. : 54
AUSTEN, HARRIET LEN-
NARD, 1768-1839, y.d. of
Rev. Henry A. (c. of George
References are to the numbers of the letters
II. Other Persons
A. ) and s. of Mrs. John Butler
Harrison (II), with whom she
lived: 51, 52, 55, 58, 62 (? 241)
Austen, Miss, ‘of a Wiltshire
family* not identified: 87
B,, Miss (possibly Burdett): 97
Badcock, Mr. and Mrs.: 86
Baigent: perhaps a son of John
B. , a farmer at Chawton: 98
Bailey, Eliza: 17
Bailey, Harriet: 25
Bailey, Miss: 51, 55, 66
Bailey, Mr.: 14
Baker, Misses, mantua-makers,
High Street, Southampton :
58
Balgonie, Lord, 1785-1863, after-
wards (1820) Earl of Leven
and Melville: 44
Ballard, Misses, of Southampton,
related to the Harrisons (the
mother of J. B. H, (2) was a
Ballard): 55
Barker, Mrs.: 74.1
Barlow(e), , presumably em-
ployed in H. Austen’s bank:
80, 92, 94, 117
Barnwall, Hon. John Thomas,
1778-1839, afterwards Baron
Trimleston, and Mrs. B. : 39
Baskerville, Mrs. shopkeeper at
Canterbury: 52
Bather (Bathur), Rev. Edward,
1780-1847, vicar (sic) of Meol-
Brace, near Shrewsbury, m.
April 1805 Emma Hallifax:
44
Battys, the: 15
Baverstock (or -stoke), Jane,
1751-18 , d. of Rev. John
Hinton, Rector of Chawton
1744-1802, and, as heiress of
her mother Martha Hinton,
‘sole representative of the
Knights of Chawton ’ ; she m.
1769 James Baverstock of
Alton: 93 (383-see also Hin-
ton), 134
Bayle, Mr. : 23, 81
Beach, — Hicks, d. 1796, sister of
William Hicks Beach, 1783— ,
who (1832) inherited Oakley
Hall at the death of Wither
Bramston: 1
Beatrice, a maid: 101
Beaty, Miss: 69, 70 (269 note)
Beckford, Maria, y.d. of Francis
Beckford of Basing Park,
Hants (uncle of the author of
Vathek) and s. -in-law of John
Middleton (with whom she
resided at Chawton 1808-12);
of 17 Welbeck-street : 69, 70,
77, 105
Beckford, Margaret Maria Eliza-
beth, 1785-1818, e.d. of Wil-
liam B. of Fonthill, the author
of Vathek (who m. in 1783);
m. 15 May 1811 Col. James
Orde: 72 (see note)
Beckford, Susanna Euphemia,
1786-1859, y.d. of William B.
of Fonthill, m. 1810 the Mar-
quess of Douglas : 72
Becky: 63
Bell, Miss, governess at Wro-
tham: 141
Bendish, Mr. and Miss (perhaps
Mr. Bendyshe of 1 Upper
Park-street,) Bath: 44
Benham, Sally: 110, 136
Benn, Rev. John, 1766-1857,
Univ. Coll. Oxon., Rector
(or, zvithin brackets , to the pages)*
11. Other Persons
1797 of Faringdon near Chaw-
ton, m. Elizabeth , 1779-
1867 ; 13 ( or more) children,
including Harriet, Elizabeth,
Piercy: 73, 133, 142
Benn, Miss, of Chawton, no
doubt s. of Mr. B, above: 72,
74, 74.1, 75, 76, 77, 78, 80,
86, 87, 96, 97, 116, 78.1
Benn, Harriet or Harriot, 1792-
1830: 72, 73, 74, 77, 104
Benn, Margaret Elizabeth,
(?)1801-30: 72, 73
Benn, Piercy (sic), second Lieut.
R. A. 1821, Major-General 1862 :
99
Bent, Mr. : 37
Bertie, Sir Albemarle, Bart. (cr.
1812), 1755-1824; Rear Ad-
miral 23 April 1804, Vice
Admiral 28 April 1808; m.
1782 Emma Heywood, who
d. 1805 ; of HiU, near South-
ampton : 48
Bertie, Catherine Brownlow, 2nd
d. of Albemarle B. ; she d. at
Hill 17 April 1808 : 48
Bertie, Sir Thomas (n€ Hoare),
1758-1825, m. 1788 Catherine
d. of Peregrine B. and took
her name ; Rear Admiral of
the Blue 28 April 1808; Kt.
1813; the Polygon, South-
ampton (where Lady B. d.
1823): 61
Bertie, , sister of Thomas B.,
= Mrs. Dickens, q.v.
Best, Dora: 90
Betsy, maid at Chawton: 76, 78,
79
Betsy, nursemaid to Mrs. Charles
Austen : 79, 87 I
Bickerton : 44 (see note)
Bigeon, Madame, Henry Aus-
ten’s servant (J. A. left her
£50): 82, 85, 89, 92, 93; her
daughter (? Mrs. Perigord, q.v.)
85
Bigg Wither, Lovelace, 1741-
1813, of Manydown, Hants;
m. (1) 1764 Rachel Clitheroe
(s. of Lady Blackstone) who
d. s.p. ; (2) 1766 Margaret
Blachford who d. 1784 ; 2 s. 7 d.
(the dd. did not take the name
Wither): 17, 18, 26 (88)
Bigg Wither, Harris, 1781-1833,
2nd s. (but his e.b. Lovelace
d. 1794) of Lovelace B. W. ; m.
1804 Anne Frith : 17, 18 (note),
23, 25
Bigg, Elizabeth: see Heathcote,
Elizabeth
Bigg, Catherine: see Hill,
Catherine
Bigg, Alethea, 1777-1847, 6th d.
of Lovelace Bigg Wither of
Manydown: 1, 2, 5, 21, 47, 52,
58, 60, 78, 82, 85, 86, 91, 108,
125, 145 ; J. A.’s letter to her,
139; 78.1
Binns, John: 60, 63, 65
Birch, Mrs., of Barton Lodge.
See at end of this Index: 12
(31, 33), 63, 86, 99
Birchall, R,, music-seller and
publisher, 133 New Bond-
street; 83
Blachford, Winifred, e.d. of
Robert Pope B. of Osborne,
l. of W. (b. of the 2nd w. of
Lovelace Bigg Wither, q.v.),
m. 18 Feb. 1815 Rev. J.
Mansfield: 15, 17, 18, 44, 108.
References are to the numbers of the letters
II. Other Persons
Blachford, Jane, 1795-1855, y.s. I James B., bart., 6 Henrietta-
of the above, m. about 1814 street?) Bath: 87
Philip Williams, s. of Rev. Bond, John, bailiff at Steventon
Philip W. of Winchester and Parsonage: 10, 18, 20, 29, 80,
b. of Charlotte W., q.v. : 81 81, 62, 76, 78 ; Lizzie (probably
Blackall, Rev. Samuel, 1771- hisd.; Elizabeth B. of Steven-
1842, Emmanuel Coll., Camb., ton m. 1809 Joseph Beal of
Rector 1812 of North (not Overton) 13
Great) Cadbury, Som. ; m. 5 Bonham, Miss: 89
Jan. 1818 Susannah, 1780- Bonham, Mr. F. : 44
1844, d. of James Lewis of Booth, Mr. and Misses: 55
Clifton, formerly of Jamaica Bourne, Robert, 1761-1829, pro-
(not Antigua): 11 (27, see fessor of medicine at Oxford ;
note), 81 his great-grandson informs me
Blackstone, Margaret, 1769- that he lived in the house that
1842, e.d. of Lovelace Bigg is now the Union Society’s: 63
Wither, q.v., and s. of Mrs. Bowen, William, M.D., 1761-
Herbert Hill ; m. 1792 Charles 1815, apothecary at Bath: 40,
B., 1759-1800, Vicar 1789 of 41, 43, 50
Andover, nephew of Sir Wil- Boyle, Courtenay, R.N., 1770-
liam B.: 108 1844, 3rd s. of the seventh
Blackstone, Mrs. H. : probably Earl of Cork, post captain
widow of Henry B., 1722- 1797; m. 1799 Carolina
1776, who m. 1771 Jane Amelia, d. of William Poyntz,
Brereton of Winchester: 17 of Midgham, Berks,: 84
Blairs, the, of Canterbury: 84 Bradshaws, the (perhaps of 18
Blake, Captain: 116 Vineyards,) Bath: 88
Blount, Mr. and Mrs.: perhaps Bramston, Wither, 1753-1882,
Edward Walter B. of Kemp- of Oakley Hall, Hants; m.
shott Park, 1779-1860, and his 1788 Mary Chute (1760-1821) ;
w. Janet Shirley: 27 no children (Mrs. B. is men-
Bolton, Lord : Thomas Orde (1795 tioned in Opinions ) : 17, 23, 24,
Powlett), 1740-1807, m. 1778 27, 31, 34, 37, 75, 82
Jane Mary, natural d. and Bramston, Augusta, 1751-1819,
(ultimately) heiress of the 5th s. of Wither B. (mentioned in
Duke of Bolton (his b. the j Opinions ) : 23, 27
6th Duke dying s.m.p. 1794), Branhll, Jemima, (presumably)
cr. Baron B. 1797 ; of Hack- d, of Mrs. John Harrison of
wood, Basingstoke; his e.s., Denne Hill, q.v.: 91 (371), 141
William: 18, 17, 18, 24 Branhll, Jemima, o.d. of Char-
Bond, Miss, (perhaps of Upper lotte (Branhll) Harrison, q.v.
Park-street ; or a d, or s. of Sir I Brecknell, Joseph, m. 9 Oct.
E r
(or, unthin brackets , to the pages).
II. Other Persons
1810, Lady Catherine Colyear,
d. of the Earl of Portmore ; 51 ,
71
Brecknell: 94
Brett, of Spring Grove, Kent:
27,45,87; ‘a Mr. Brett* , 90
Bridges, Fanny, Lady,
1825, d. of Edmund Fowler of
Graces, Essex, m. 1765 Sir
Brook Bridges III, who d.
1791 ; 7 s. 6 d. During her
widowhood Lady B. lived at
Goodnestone Farm with her
unmarried daughters and her
orphan grand-daughters the
Cages: 5, 6, 29, 35, 40 (spelled
Brydges according to Bra-
bourne), 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59,
72, 74, 82, 87, 90, 91, 93
Bridges, Sir Brook William,
1767-1829, of Goodnestone,
Kent, fourth baronet (1791);
m. (1) 1800 Eleanor Foote who
d. 1806 ; 3 s. 1 d. ; (2) 1809
Dorothy Elizabeth, e.d. of
Sir Henry Hawley of Ley-
bourne, Kent, who d. 1816: 5,
50 (186), 62, 89, 90, 91 ; ‘three
little Bridgeses,’ 54; ‘8 chil-
dren 1 , 50 (the three then
surviving)
Bridges, Eleanor, Lady, -
1806, e.d. of John Foote, 1st
w. of Sir Brook B. IV and s.
of Mrs. Edward B. : 50 (185),
60 (231, Eleanor)
Bridges, Eleanor, b. 1805, o.d. of
Sir Brook B. IV : 117
Bridges, Dorothy Elizabeth,
Lady, 2nd w. of Sir Brook B. ,
IV, q.v.: 90 (367), 91 (870,
371, 373)
Bridges, Rev. Brook Henry,
1770-1855, 3rd s. of Sir Brook
III; m. 1795 Jane, d. of Sir
Thomas Pym Hales of Beaks-
bourne, Kent ; 2 s. 2 d. ; Rec-
tor of Danbury, Essex: 4, 5,
82, 91, 78.1
Bridges, Jane, 1766- , w. of
Rev. Brook Henry Bridges,
q.v.: 4, 5
Bridges, Rev. Brook Edward,
1779-1825, 5th s. of Sir Brook
III; m. 1809 Harriet Foote;
Rector 1807 of Bonnington,
Kent, and Vicar 1810 of Len-
ham, Kent: 5, 15, 45, 46, 47,
54, 56, 60, 85, 86, 87, 89, 91
Bridges, Harriet, y.d. of John
Foote, s. of Lady Bridges (w.
of Sir Brook IV) and of Lucy
F. ; w. of Edward B. : 29, 60
(231, 234), 87
Bridges, Rev. Brook John, -
1812, 6th s. of Sir Brook III;
St. John’s Coll., Cambridge
(M.A. 1808); m. 1810 Char-
lotte d. of Sir Henry Hawley
of Leybourne, Kent; Rector
1808 of Saltwood and Hythe,
Kent; (mentioned in Opin-
ions): 46, 51, 52, 53, 54, 58,
60, 63, 72
Bridges, Fanny, 1771- , see
Cage
Bridges, Sophia, 1772-1844, see
Deedes
BRIDGES, ELIZABETH, 1773-
1808, see Austen in Index I
Bridges, Marianne, 1774-1811,
4th d. of Sir Brook Bridges
III: 5, 6, 40, 47, 49
Bridges, Louisa, 1777-1856, 5th
References are to the numbers of the letters
II. Other Persona
d. of Sir Brook Bridges III:
4, 5, 51, 52, 53, 82, 87, 89, 01,
93, 103
Bridges, Harriot Mary, 1781-
1840, see Moore
Bridges, Miss: 5 (see note)
Briggs, Mr. : 18
Britton, Dr. and Mrs. : 80, 91
Bromley, Mrs., lodging-house
keeper, 12 (and 18) Queen-
square, Bath: 19
Brown, Bob : 12
Browns or Brownes, the (perhaps
the Hon. Mrs. B., of 3 Burling-
ton-street,) Bath: 43
Brown, Captain A., R.N., and
Mrs. B.: 49
Browning, servant at Chaw ton
Cottage: 77, 78, 97, 130
Browning, Mrs. : 96
Brydges, Jemima, 1727-1809, of
the Precincts, Canterbury,
widow (1780) of Edward B. of
Wootton Court, Kent, and
mother of Sir Samuel Eger ton
B., of Anne Lefroy, and of
Charlotte Harrison: 14 (39),
52, 53
Brydges, Sir Samuel Egerton,
1762-1837, first baronet (1814)
of Denton Court, Kent. See
also Index V: 12, 30 (note)
Brydges, Mrs. Jemima, un-
married daughter of Mrs.
Brydges : 53
Brydges, Jemima, 2nd d. of Sir
Samuel Egerton B, (He had
two daughters called Jemima ;
but Mrs. Bellas’ s note states
that the J. B. referred to is the
younger, who in 1817 became
Mrs. Quillinan): 86
Budd, Mrs. : 74
Budd, Harriot: 74
Buller, Rev. Richard, 1776 (?)-
19 Dec. 1806, Vicar of Colyton,
Devon, s. of William Buller,
Bishop of Exeter, and of Anne,
d. of John Thomas (1691-
1766), Bishop of Winchester;
b. at Winston, Hants ; pupil of
George Austen; m. Anna
Marshall: 2, 25 (85 note), 39,
43, 44
Buller, Susanna Catherine, 1769-
1840, s. of Richard B., m. 1808
Sir John Duckworth, Bt. ; 43,
48
Bulmore, Captain: 51
Buonaparte : 77
Burdett, Miss : probably Frances,
d. 1846, s. of Sir Francis B.,
Bt., and of Elizabeth B., who
1801 m. Sir James Langham,
Bt., of Cottesbrooke, North-
ants (Sir J. L. is coupled, in
Opinions , with H. Sanford,
q.v.): 80, 97 (?390), 99 (men-
tioned in Opinions)
Burdon : either John Burden,
bookseller, College-street, or
Thomas B., bookseller and
wine - merchant, Kingsgate -
street, both of Winchester: 12
Burton, Miss : 69
Busby, Mrs., (perhaps Mrs. Sarah
B., 5 King-street,) Bath: 35,
36, 37
Bushell, Dame: 10
Butcher: probably Samuel B.,
1770- f Lt. R.N. 1794: 15
(43 note)
Butler, Mr. and Mrs. John:
74.1
(or, within brackets , to the pages).
//. Other Persons
Butler, Richard, hair-dresser of
Basingstoke: 13
Byng, Major Edmund, 177 4r-
1854: 31 (111 note)
C., Miss (perhaps Clewes, q.v.):
140
C., Miss (probably Curling, q.v.):
65
C., Mrs.: 99 (see note)
Cage, Lewis, of Milgate, Kent,
m. 1791, Fanny e.d. of Sir
Brook Bridges III; 2 d.
(Fanny and Sophia, who after
the early death of their parents
lived with their grandmother
Lady Bridges at Goodnestone
Farm) : 4, 5, 26
Cage, Fanny, 1771- , e.d. of
Sir Brook Bridges III, m.
1791, Lewis Cage: 4, 5, 15
(but this may be L. C.’s
mother), 26
Cage, Fanny, 1793 (?)-1874, e.d.
of Lewis Cage, m. 1834 her
cousin Sir Brook Bridges V
(mentioned in Opinions) : 74.1,
82, 84, 86, 91, 103, 140
Cage, Rev. Charles, y.b. of Lewis
C. ; m. Graham, s. of the
second Lady Knatehbull, of
Lady Oxenden, and of Charles
G. (C. Cage is mentioned in
Opinions) : 30, 87, 90, 140
Calker, Mrs.: 142
Calland, Mr. : probably Rev.
John C., 1763-1800, s. of John
C, of Alverstoke, Hants ;
Rector of Bent worth: 15
Canterbury, Archbishop of;
Charles Manners Sutton, 1755-
1828, archbp. 1805-28: 84
Canterbury, Dean of, see Powys
Capet, Hugh (a horse) : 30
Carnarvon, Henry George Her-
bert, 2nd Earl of, 1772-1833,
of Highclere, Hants : 23
Carpenter, Mr., physician at
Lyme: 39
Carrick, Mrs. (mentioned in
Opinions) : 90
Catherine, Lady, see Brecknell,
Joseph
Cawthorn, publisher: C. and
Hutt, 24 Cockspur-St : 10
Chalcraft, Lucy: 88
Chamberlayne, Mr. and Mrs.:
31, 35, 36, 37, 38, 43, 44;
Richard C., 43; Miss C., 43
(perhaps the niece mentioned
in the same letter)
Chambers, maid to Mrs. Leigh
Perrot : 60
Chambers, William, silk- dyer,
Canal - place, Southampton :
56
Champneys, Sir Thomas, 1745-
1821, first baronet (1767) of
Orchardley, Som.: 27
Champneys, Catherine Harriet,
1776-1812, d. of Sir Thomas
C., m. J. Butcher: 27
Chaplin, Miss : 62
Chapman, Mrs. and Miss, from
Margate: 87
Charde, George William, 1765-
1849, assistant organist at
Winchester Cathedral : 4
Charles XII: 81
Charlotte, Queen, 1744—1818:
64
Charlotte, perhaps maid at
Deane: 24, 26
Charlottes, Lady: 99 (397 note)
References are to the numbers of the letters
II. Other Persons
Charterises, the Miss: 17
Chessyre, Mr. : 55
Children, John George, 1777-
1852, of Ferox Hall, Tun-
bridge, m. 1798 Miss Holwell,
grandd. of Governor H. of
Bengal: 6 (15 note)
Chisholme, Rev. Charles, Rector
1812 of Eastwell, Kent: 86
Choles, the Austens’ servant at
Southampton: 55, 62, 66
Chowne(s), see Tilson
Christian’s ; probably C. and
Son, Linen-drapers, 11 Wig-
more St.: 80
Christina, Queen of Sweden : 81
Chute, William John, 1757-1824,
of The Vyne, Hants, M.P. for
Hants 1790-1806 and 1807-
1820; M.F.H.; succeeded his
f. 1791 ; m. 1793 Elizabeth
Smith, who d. 1842; no issue:
2, 23, 24, 25, 71, 138
Chute, Rev. Thomas Vere, 1772-
1827, y.b. of W. J. C. ; un-
married: 2, 24, 29, 30, 44, 48
Clarinbould or Claringbould,
fanner: 5, 6
Clarke (Clerk), John, 1759-1842,
of Worting, Hants, m. Anne
2nd d. of Carew Mildmay and
s. of Lady M., q.v. : 12, 15, 24,
27
Clarke, Rev. James Stnnier,
1765 (?)-1834, author, naval
chaplain (1795-9) and (1799)
domestic chaplain to the
Prince of Wales: 121; letters
to and from, 113, 113 a, 120 a,
126 a, 126; see also Index V
Clayton, Mr.: 6
Clement, Benjamin, 1785-1835,
Capt. R.N., of Chawton; m.
1811 Ann Mary (1788-1858)
y.d. of William Prowting:
74.1, 75, 78, 84, 97, 104, 108,
130, 137, 142, 147(?)
Clement, Rev. Benjamin, 1813-
73, Minor Canon of Win-
chester: 84(329)
Clerk, see Clarke
Clewes, Miss ( Mrs . Clewes in 84
p. 335 may be a title of honour),
governess at Godmersham
(1813); (mentioned in Opin-
ions): 78, 80, 84, 88, 90, 91 (and
perhaps 140 p. 481)
Cole, Benjamin, lodging-house
keeper, Sydney-place, Bath : 39
Coleby, milliner at Alton: 74.1
Coleman, Mrs.: 50
Collier’s coach: 97, 99, 111, 127
Conyngham, Lady: Elizabeth,
d. of J. Denison, m. 1794
Baron C., 1766—1832, who be-
came 1816 first Marquis C.,
1821 Baron Minster of M.
Abbey, Kent; Lady C. k pos-
sessed great influence over
George IV’: 14.
COOKE , Rev. SAMUEL , 1741-
1820, Rector of Cotsford,
Oxon., and Vicar of Great
Bookham, Surry, where he
lived ; m. Cassandra, 1744—
1826, d. of Theophilus Leigh,
Master of Balliol, and first
cousin of Mrs. George Austen
(see also Index V): 2 s. 1 d. :
10, 30, 43, 44, 51, 52, 54, 57,
63, 65, 6G, 69, 73, 84, 90, 96,
112 144
COOKE, Rev. THEOPHILUS
LEIGH, 1776-1846, e.s. of
(or, within brackets , to the pages).
II. Oth
Rev. Samuel C. ; Balliol, and
Fellow of Magdalen Coll.,
Oxon.: 63, 69
COOKE, Rev. GEORGE
LEIGH, 1780—1853, y.s. of
Rev. Samuel C. ; Balliol, and
(1800) Fellow of Corpus Christi
Coll., Oxon.: 44, 63, 66, 69,
70, 84
COOKE, MARY, o.d. of Rev.
Samuel C. : 43, 44, 65, 66, 69,
70, 73, 84
COOPER, Rev. Dr. EDWARD,
1728-27 Aug. 1792 ; of South-
cote near Reading ; Rector
of Whaddon near Bath, and
1784 of Sonning, Berks.; m.
1768 Jane Leigh, o.s. of Mrs.
George Austen, who d. 1783 :
Is. Id.: 2
Cooper, Mrs. : perhaps w. of Rev.
Edward Cooper the elder,
q.v. : 24 (note)
COOPER, Rev. EDWARD,
1770—1835, o.s. of above;
Rector 1799 of Hamstall-
Ridware, Staffs. ; m. 14 March
1793 Caroline Isabella Lybbe
Powys, who d. 1838 ; curate at
Harpsden (Harden) near Hen-
ley 1793-9 ; see also Index V ;
1 (see note), 2, 18, 32, 33, 57,
58, 66, 72. Their children:
Edward 2, 66 ; Caroline 2 ; nine
children 72.
COOPER, CAROLINE, w. of
Edward C. the younger, q.v.
COOPER, JANE, o.d. of
Edward C. the elder, see
Williams, Lady
Cope, Rev. Sir Richard, 1719-
1800, ninth baronet, of Brams-
' Persons
hill Park, rector of Everalev.
Hants : 49
Corbett, a bailiff: 81
Corbett, Mary, maid at Ashe
Park: 33
Cottrell, Mr, : probably Rev,
Clement C., Rector 1800 of
North Waltham, Hants : 75
The Miss C, of Waltham, 55,
is no doubt his d. ; see Lefroy,
J* H, G,
Coulthard, Thomas, d. 1811,
living at Basing Park 1797*
and tenant 1800-7 of Chawton
Manor, and later of Oakley
Hall ; 4 s,, 2 or more d. : 24, 75
Coulthard, Mrs., d. 1800, pre-
sumably w. of the above; 11
Coulthard, Mrs. ; 43
Courtenay, Captain, see Lefrov,
Sarah
Cove, Mrs. and Miss Anna : 39
Cox(e), Misses: 27
Crabbe, Sarah, wife of the poet
(q.v. in Index V), d. 21 Sept.
1813 (not Oct. as stated in Gent.
Mag. and by Crabbe’s son;
see Huchon, Crabbe and his
Times , Engl, trans. 1907,
p. 375) : 88
Craven, Lord: William Craven,
1770-1825, 7th Baron and 1st
Earl of the 2nd creation, of
Hamstead Marshall and Ash-
down Park, Berks. ; m. 1807
Louisa Brunton, an actress
(mentioned in Opinions ) ; 18,
30, 32
Craven, Rev. John (see Mrs.
Craven) : 20 (65, see note)
Craven, Mrs. : Catherine Hughes,
d. 1839, second w. (1779) of
References are to the numbers of the letters
II. Other Persons
Rev. John C. (d. 1804) of
Chilton, Wilts, (b. of Mrs.
Fowle and Mrs. Lloyd) ; Mrs.
C. as a widow lived at Speen
Hill; 2 s. 1 d., Charlotte, who
1819 m. Sir J. Pollen, Rt. (both
Mrs. and Miss C. mentioned in
Opinions ): 88, 43, 51, 53, 79,
87, 97, 183
Crawford, Mr.: 39
Creed, Mrs. (mentioned in Opin-
ions): 109 ; Creeds of Hendon,
111 (422 note)
Criswick, Mr. : 60 (There is men-
tion in Caroline Austen’s
Reminiscences of a Mrs. Cres-
wick at Highclere, and of a
Mr. Creswick 4 formerly a
servant in Governor Craven’s
family ’).
Crook and Besford’s (John Crook,
Son, and Besford, Haber-
dashers and Hosiers, 104 Pall-
mall): 83
Crooke, young Mr. and the
second Miss: 27
Crosby, Richard, of Crosby and
Co., 4 Stationers’ Court, Lud-
gate-street, publishers: 67, 67a
Croucher, Mary : 88
Crutchleys,the ; possibly G. H. C.
of Sunning Hill Park, which
is 6 m. from Egham on the
Reading road : 99
Cure, Mr. : 70 (274 note)
Curling, Miss and Miss Eliza,
cousins of Mrs. Frank Austen :
61, 63, 65, 66, 70
Curtis, Mr., Apothecary at
Alton : 96, 144, 145
Cuthbert, Miss, and brother: 11
(29 note)
Cuthbert, Maria: 117
Daniel, coachman at Godmer-
sham: 9, 45, 51
D’Arblay, Alexander, 1794- ,
s. of General D’A. and Fanny
Burney: 90
D’ Auvergne, Corbet James, Com-
mander R.N. 1807, appointed
to the Autumn Sept. 1810 ; see
J. W. Horrocks in Times Lit.
Suppt. 23 Feb. 1928 : 61, 65
Davis, Mrs., draper at Basing-
stoke: 18
Davis, Miss, a singer: 70
Dawes, Miss : 28
Dawkins, Betty: 15, 23
Day, Mrs.: 50
Daysh, George, clerk in the
Ticket Office, Navy Office: 13,
15, 16, 18, 69
Deane, Mr., of Winchester: 13
Deanes, Miss (or Deane, Misses) :
1
Deans Dundas, see Dundas
Debary, Rev. Peter, 1725-Jan.
1814, Vicar 1775 of Hurst-
bourne Tarrant, Hants, m. Ann
Hayward, 1727-1809 ; 2 s. 4d. :
Rev. Peter, 1764—1841,
Trin. Coll., Camb., Curate
1804 and Vicar Jan. 1807
of Eversley, Hants ; Richard,
1767- 1829; Ann, 1763-1834;
Mary, 1766-1854; Susannah,
1768- 1852 ; Sarah, 1770-1823:
11, 12, 14, 17, 24, 27, 28, 30,
37, 39, 49, 55, 133
Deedes, William, 1761-1834, of
Sandling, Kent, m. 1791
Sophia 2nd d. of Sir Brook
Bridges III ; 4 numerous issue * :
(or, within brackets , to the pages).
II. Other Persons
23, 49, 54, 57, 61, 63, 84, 86,
89, 90, 91, 140 ; their children:
54, eleven children; 54, 74.1,
Mary; 90, Isabella; 46, 91,
Sophia; 140, Marianne; 78.1
Delman’s Rooms, Canterbury:
28 (98 note)
‘Dennis, Mrs. Ashton’ (‘M.A.D.’),
assumed name of J. A.: 67*
67a
D’Entraigues (or D’Antraigues),
Comte, 1756-July 1812 ; came
to England with credentials
from the Emperor of Russia
1806 ; m. ‘the once celebrated
Mad. St. Huberti, an actress at
the Theatre Francois’, who
had amassed a very large
fortune by her professional
talents ’ ; of Barnes-terrace,
Barnes, Surry, and Queen
Anne-street West ; assassinat-
ed by their Italian servant;
one son (1792-1861) ‘studying
the law at Manchester’ {Gent.
Mag. 1812, ii. 79): 69, 70 (Un
Agent secret, par L. Pingaud,
Paris, 1894; Gent. Mag.)
Dering, Sir Edward, 1732-8 Dec.
1798, sixth baronet, of Suren-
den-Dering, Kent ; succeeded
by his s. the seventh baronet:
14
Dewar, Jane Charlotte, d. of
Penelope Susannah Mathew
(q.v.) who 1787 m. David
Dewar of Enham House,
Hants: 105
Dickens, Mrs. (n6e Bertie) : 61
Dickson, Mrs. (mentioned in
Opinions): 48, 49
Digweed, Hugh, 1738-98, of
Steventon Manor, Hants; m.
Ruth , 1740-91 ; 5 s., of
whom the eldest, John, suc-
ceeded to his father’s property
at Eechinswell, and is not men-
tioned in the letters ; only the
2nd, 3rd, and 4th sons concern
us:6
Digweed, Hany, 1771-1848, 2nd
s. of Hugh D.; from 1798
tenant, in common with his b.
William, of Steventon Manor ;
- m. 3 March 1808 Jane Terry’
and thereafter lived at Alton :
9, 10,15, 27, 81, 59,j72, 74, 74.1,
75, 76, 100 (?), 132, 133, 140
Digweed, Jane, w. of Harry D.,
q.v. (‘Mrs. Digweed’ is men-
tioned in Opinions) : 24 (80 ?),
62, 64, 72, 74, 74.1, 75, 76
(298 ‘beyond anything &
everything’ quotes Mrs. D.),
77, 78, 86, 98, 129, 132, 133,
141
Digweed, Rev. James, 1774-
1862, of Dummer; 3rd s. of
Hugh D. ; m. June 1803 Maty
Susannah, 1772-1840, o.d. of
John Lyford of Basingstoke:
10, 14, 15, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27,
30, 31, 32, 72
Digweed, Mary Susannah, w. of
James Digweed, q.v.: 14, 24,
30,31,34, 55
Digweed, William Francis, 4th s.
of Hugh D.; from 1798
tenant, in common with his b.
Harry, of Steventon Manor,
and continued there when H.
went to Alton 1808: 15, 27, 33,
62, 98, 104, 130, 138, 143
Dinah, maid at Kintbury : 23
References are to the numbers of the letters
II. Other Persons
Doe, Mary : 86, 88
Dolphins, the, probably of Ey ford
House, Glos. : 86
Dorchester, Lord: Guy Carleton,
1724-1808, C. in C. in America
1781—8, first Baron D. 1786 ; of
Kempshott Park, Hants; m,
1772 Maria, d. of 2nd Earl of
Effingham, who d. 1886: 16, 24
Doricourt, Mr, : 81
Dormer, Mrs. : 104
Douglas, Marchioness of, see
Beckford
Dowdeswell, Mrs., 17 Marl-
borough-buildings, Bath : 19
Downes, the: 39
Dowton, William, 1764-1851,
actor: 70
Drew, Mrs.: 62
Driver, Mrs., housekeeper (?) at
Godmersham: 84, 97
Drummond Smith, Lady, 2nd w.
of Sir D. S. Bt. of Tring Park :
80
Duer, Mrs., of Southampton,
doubtless w. or widow of John
D. of Antigua, and grandm.
of Sir George Henry Rose,
M.P. for the city: 55, 56
Duncan, Mr., Mr. John, their
sisters (perhaps children of
Lady Mary D., 44 Great
Pulteney-street,) Bath: 43
Dundas, Charles, 1751-1832,
M.P. for Berks. 1794-1832;
cr. Baron Amesbury 1832 ; m.
Ann Whitley, heiress of Barton
Court, Berks., q.v. ; 1 d.: 87
Dundas, Ann Whitley, 1752-
1 Dec. 1812, of Barton Court,
Berks., first w. of the above:
30(106), 56, 61,66, 71,74.1
Dundas, Janet Whitley, o.d. of
Charles D., m. April 1808 her
first c. James Deans, R.N.,
who took the names of Whit-
ley and Dundas; (mentioned
in Opinions): 48, 74,1, 75
(295), 97, 78.1 (504)
Durham, Sir Philip, 1768-1845,
Captain R.N., Admiral and
G.C.B. 1880 ; appointed to the
Endymion Feb. 1801 : 82
Dusautoy, Mrs. and Misses: 49
(180 note), 64, 97
Dyson, Rev. Henry, Rector of
Baugherst, Hants, 4 a gentle-
man of the most wooden and
inexpressive countenance im-
aginable' (The Vine Hunt ,
1865, p. 63), and Mrs. D. ; in
1807 he had 7 s. : 34
East, Sir William, 1738-1819,
first baronet 1766, of Hall
Place, Berks. ; an unpublished
poem by James Austen, writ-
ten 1799, shows that Sir
William’s e.s. Gilbert was one
of George Austen’s pupils : 29
East, Miss, see Latouche, Mrs.:
70, 99, 116, 117
Eden(s), the Miss : 17
Edwards, Mr., and d., (Edwards,
Rev. and Mrs., 7 Gay-street,)
Bath : 37
Edwards, Mrs. : 77
Edwin, Mrs. John, jun., 1769—
1854, actress: 70
Egerton, Henry : 49, 69 (270 note),
70
Egerton, Thomas, Military
Library, Whitehall, J. A.’s first
publisher (mentioned in Opin-
(or, within brackets , to the pages).
II. Other Persons
ions as admiring the morality
of M.P.): 74.1, 85, 106
Ekins, Anne, see Holder, John
Hooper
Eliza, protegee of Anne Sharpe :
145
Eliza, the Austens’ maid at
Southampton: 56, 62, 65
Elizabeth, Queen: 81
Elkington, Major: 15
Elliott, Mr. : 21
Elliott, Mrs. (perhaps Mrs. Grace
E. of 4 Seymour-street, Bath ;
see Stanhope) : 44
Ellis, Charles Rose, of Clare-
mont, q.v. : 79
Elliston, Robert William, 1774-
1831, actor ; m. 1796 Elizabeth
Rundall, a teacher of dancing
in Bath, who ‘in the height of
his success continued her
occupation’ (D.N.B.): 50, 93
Elliston, Rev. Dr. William, 1732-
1807, Master of Sidney College,
Cambridge, ‘ uncle to Mr. E. the
dramatic performer, to whom
he has left considerable pro-
perty, Report says 17,000 1.’: 50
Elton, James : 23
Emery, John, 1777-1822, actor:
94
Esten, Mrs. : 64 (see note)
Estwick, Mrs.: Cassandra Julia,
e.d. of second Lord Hawke,
and n. of Lady Saye and Sele,
q.v., m. (1) 1793 Samuel E. of
Barbados, (2) Sept. 1800 Rev.
Stephen Sloane: 27
Evelyn, Alexander, and Mrs. E. :
22, 87
Evelyn, William, 1734-1 Nov.
1813, of St. Clere, Kent, and
10 Queen’s Parade, Bath, and
Mrs. E. : 21 (68 note), 22, 36, 88,
87, 91
F : 17 (49 note)
Fagg, Rev. Sir John, c. 1760-
1822, sixth baronet, of My-
stole near Canterbury, m. 1789
Anne Newman ; their family in-
cluded 5 d., Elizabeth, Sarah
Anne, Augusta, Lucy, Jemima :
84, 86, 87, 91 ; Miss Sally, 87
Falknor: 76, 102 (407 note)
Fanshawe, Miss, perhaps a fabu-
lous person : 27
Fellowes, Dr. physician, 4 Para-
gon-buildings, Bath, and Mrs.
F. : 20, 22
Fendall, banker in Gloucester: 30
Fielding or Feilding, Mrs. (n6e
Finch), m. 1772 Hon. Charles
F., son (by a second marriage)
of the wife of Sir Brook Bridges,
2nd baronet of Goodnestone : 6
Filmer, Rev. Francis, 1773-1859,
Rector of Crondale, Kent, and
Mrs. F. : 52, 53
Finch-Hatton, George, 1747-
1823, of Eastwell, Kent, m.
1785 Lady Elizabeth, d. of
2nd Earl of Mansfield : 45, 46,
53, 54, 84, 89, 91
Finch-Hatton, George, 1791-
1858, e.s, of George F.-H. of
Eastwell ; m, 1814 Lady Char-
lotte Graham, d. of the Duke
of Montrose; afterwards (1826)
10th Earl of Winchilsea: 45,
84, 87, 89, 93, 99 (397)
Finch-Hatton, Rev. Daniel,
1795-1866, y.s. of GeorgeF.-H.
of Eastwell: 45
References are to the numbers of the letters
*
IL Other Persons
Finch-Hatton, Louisa, c. 1786-
1875, e.d. of G. F.-H. of East-
well; m. 1807 Major-Gen* Hon.
Charles Hope : 45, 46, 50, 54
Finch-Hatton, Anna Maria,
-1837, 2nd d. of G. F.-H.
of East well : 54, 91
Finch-Hatton , Elizabeth : per-
haps a mistake for Emily
Mary, 8rd d. of G. F.-H. of
Eastwell : 54
Finch-Hatton, John Emilius
Daniel Edward, 1755-
y.b. of G. F.-H. of Eastwell:
18, 45
Finch, the Misses (Anne and
Mary), ss. of G. F.-Hatton of
Eastwell: 5, 18, 45, 66, 89
Fitzhugh, Valentine, d. 1811,
y.b. of William F., M.P. : 62
Fletcher, Miss : 6
Fletcher, Mrs., wife of William F.
(matric. Trin. Coll. Dublin
1765), judge of Common Pleas,
Ireland : 90
Floor, Mr., tradesman in South-
ampton? : 56
Floyd, Miss, i.e. Martha Lloyd,
q.v. in Index 1 : 88 (note)
Foley, Mrs., 17 Marlborough-
buildings, Bath: 19
Fonnereau, Miss : 24
Foote, Edward James 1767—1833,
Captain R.N., Vice-Admiral
1821, K.C.B. 1831 ; of Highfield
House, Southampton; m. (1)
Nina Herries (children, Francis,
Catherine and Caroline), (2)
Mary Patton (children, Mary,
Helena, Anne, Elizabeth) ;
(Admiral F. is mentioned in
Opinions): 48 (172 note)
Foote, Francis, Catherine and
Caroline, children of Captain
Foote by his first marriage:
49 (178) ; Catherine 1797-1818,
49 (179), 61
Foote, Mary (n£e Patton), 2nd
w. of Captain F. : 48
Foote, Mary, Helena, Anne and
Elizabeth (not Caroline), chil-
dren (the last bapt. 27 Jan.
1807) of Captain Foote by his
second marriage : 48
Foote, Caroline, s. of Captain
F. : 48 (172), 56
Foote, Eleanor, see Bridges,
Eleanor, Lady
Foote, Harriet, see Bridges,
Harriet
Foote, Lucy, y.s. of Lady Bridges
(1st w. of Sir Brook B. IV) and
of Mrs. Edward B. : 60, 90, 91
Forbes, Lady : 46
Foresters, the: 87
Fowle, Rev. Thomas (1), 1727-
1806, Vicar of Kintbury,
Berks., Rector of Hampstead
Marshall, Berks., and Ailing-
ton, Wilts.; m. Jane Craven
(d. 1798), d. of Hon. Charles C.,
Governor of S. Carolina, and
s. of Mrs. Lloyd ; 4 s. : 2.
Fowle, Rev. Fulwar Craven,
1764^1840, e.s. of Rev. Thomas
F. (1) ; St. John’s Coll., Oxon,
1781, Vicar of Kintbury and
Rector of Elkstone, Glos.,
1798-1840 ; m. his 1st c. Eliza
Lloyd: 3s. 3d.; (mentioned
in Opinions): 18, 80, 32, 33,
58 (see note) 74.1, 116
Fowle, Eliza, 1768-1839, 2nd d.
of Rev. N. Lloyd, m. Fulwar
(or, within brackets , to the pages).
II. Other Persons
Craven F.: 1, 2, 13, 20, 30,
32, 33, 39, 58 (see note), 59, 60,
74.1, 91
Fowle, Fulwar William, 15 April
1791-1876, e.s. of Fulwar
Craven F. ; Winchester
(scholar 1803—9) and Merton
Coll., Oxon. ; Rector of Ailing-
ton 1816: 32, 44, 50, 56, 60,
64.74.1.87
Fowle, Thomas (3), -(?)1822,
2nd s. of Fulwar Craven F. ;
Lt. R.N. 1812: 32; see also
Sailor Brothers p. 210 (where
Fowler should be Fowle)
Fowle, Mary Jane, 1792-1883,
e.d. of Fulwar Craven F. : 60,
74.1. 87
Fowle, Elizabeth Caroline, Dec.
1798—1860, 2nd d. of Fulwar
Craven F. : 18, 32
Fowle, Rev. Thomas (2), 1766-
Feb. 1797, 3rd s. of Rev.
Thomas F. (1), Rector of
Allington 1793 ; left £1,000 to
his fiancfe, Cassandra Austen :
(?) 2 (5 note)
Fowle, Charles, -1806, 4th
s. of Rev. Thomas F. (1); a
barrister; m. 1799 Honoria
Townsend of Newbury, who d.
1823:1,2, 17, 43, 66
Fowle, Mrs.: perhaps the w. of
William F., M.D., 1766-1805,
2nd s. of Rev. Thomas F. (1)
— did he m. a Miss Carpenter ? ;
or of William F. of Chute
Lodge, Hants, and Durrington,
Wilts., a cousin of Rev.
Thomas F.: 19
Fowler, Miss: 49
Frances, a maid ? : 19
Franfraddops, the: 87
Frank, Mr. Leigh Perrot’s
(negro?) servant: 19, 35
Franklyn, Mrs., 8 Montpelier,
Bath: 87
Fraser, Mrs. : 39
Frederick, see Tilson, Christopher
Freeman, Mrs. : 78
French, Peter William, of St.
Lawrence, Reading, chemist,
m. 1799 Mary Skeete, widow,
of Basingstoke : 17
Frere, Mrs. G.: 139
Fust, Sir John, Bart., 1725-99, of
Hill Court, Glos.,m. Philippad.
of John Hamilton of Chilson,
Kent., who d. 1803 : 36, 37, 38
Gabell, Henry Dison, 1764-1831,
Headmaster of Winchester
1810-23: 74.1, 146
Galigar de Concini (d. 1617) : 145
(495 note)
Garabier, James, first Baron, Ad-
miral, 1756-1833 : 14, 15, 16, 69
Gardiner, Rev. Dr., 10 Paragon-
buildings, Bath, m. June 1799
Mrs. J. Piersy: 21
Garnet, Dame, and children : 75
Garrett, Miss: 10
Gauntlett, Mr. : 25, 75
Gayleard’s: 51
George III, 4 June (N.S.) 1738-
1820, acceded 1760: 22 (71), 38
(137-8), 51 (191), 73 (285), 74
Gibbs (Gibbes), Dr., physician,
28 Gay-street, Bath: 40, 41
Gibson, Miss, see Austen, Mrs.
Frank, in Index 1 : 43
Gibson, Elizabeth and S ,
doubtless sisters of Mrs. F.
Austen: 105, 108, 111, 133
References are to the numbers of the letters
11. Other Persons
Gibson, a young : 90
Gipps, Rev. H., m. (?1812)Emma
Maria, 2nd d. (but her e. sister
d. 1809) of John Plumtre: 71,
78, 74, 84, 86, 91, 108, 141
Girle, Mrs., 1712-8 Jan. 1801,
grandm. of Caroline Cooper
(Lybbe Powys diary) : 82
Gloucester, H. R. H. William
Henry, Duke of, 1748-1805, b.
of George III ; he died at 8.80
p.m., 26 Aug. 1805: 46, 47
Gloucester, Prince William Fred-
erick of, 177 6 — 1834, s. of above,
second D. of G. 1805: 15
Glyn, Miss: probably d. of Sir
James Glynne of Bugle Hall,
Southampton: 65
Goddard, Dr. William Stanley,
1757—1844, Headmaster of
Winchester 1796—1809: 53, 64,
58
Goodchild, Mary, ‘under’ to the
Frank Austens : 97
Gordan, Mr., of Cleveland Row ? :
111
Gordon, Sir Jenison William,
1748-1831, second baronet, of
Haverbolm Priory, Lincoln-
shire j m. 1781 Harriet, s. of
George Finch-Hatton, q.v.
(Lady G. is mentioned in
Opinions ) : 45.
Gore, Captain John, R.N.: 7
Gore, Caroline, 1772- , 5th d.
of Sir Thomas Pym Hales of
Beaksbourne, Kent, and y.s.
of Mrs. Henry Bridges; m.
1798, Hon. William John Gore,
2nd s. of the Earl of Arran : 4,
52(193?), 90
Gore-Langton, William, 1760-
18 , s. of Edward Gore of
Kiddington, Oxon. ; Lt.-Col.
Oxfordshire militia 4 Oct.
1798: 12
Gould, Rev. John, 1780-1866,
Trin. Coll., Oxon. (matric. 6
Dec. 1798) : 20
Graham, Rev. Charles, Rector of
Barham and b.-in-law of Sir
Edward Knatchbull VIII, q.v.
( Braboume i. 840): 53
Graham, Charlotte: 25
Granby, Marquis of (George John
Frederick Manners), baptized
4 Jan. 1814 (‘by the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, in the
presence of the whole of the
nobility and gentry at the
[Belvoir] Castle: the sponsors
were the Prince Regent, and
the Duke of York; and the
Duchess Dowager of Rutland,
Proxy for the Queen’); died
15 June 1814 (Gent. Mag. 1814,
pp. 88, 700): 97
Grants, the: 1
Granville, Mrs., and her son : 89
Gray, E. H., and E. W., of the
banking firm of Austen, Gray,
and Vincent, of Alton, Hants :
56, 78, 80, 82, 92, 93, 94, 96, 97
Greaves’s, the (the Bath Direc-
tory 1800 gives four families of
G.) : 88
Gregory, Mrs. and Miss, of Can-
terbury?: 53
Gregorys, young, of Southamp-
ton?: 60
Grenville, Rt. Hon. Thomas,
M.P., 1755-1846, First Lord
of the Admiralty 1806-April
i 1807 : 50
(or, within brackets, to the pages).
II. Other Persons
Guillemarde : (probably) John
Lewis, 1765—1844, s. of John
G. of Spitalfields, Middlesex,
and of 27 Gower-st., Bedford-
square ; St. John’s Coll.,Oxon. *
70
Gunthorpe, William, jnr., of
Bugle Hall, Southampton ; m.
28 Jan. 1807 Alicia (18) d. of
Josias Jackson of Belle Vue,
Southampton : 49 '
Gustavus Vasa : 81
Hacker, a gardener : 27
Hacket, Pierce, M.D., Above Bar,
Southampton : 64
Haden (not Haydon), Charles
Thomas, 1786—1824, surgeon,
of 62 Sloane-street ; (men-
tioned in Opinions ): 111 , H6,
117, 118; J. A. to him, 122.1
Halavant, M., Henry Austen’s
cook: 33
Hales, Caroline, see Gore, Caro-
line
Hales, Jane, see Bridges, Jane
Hales, Harriet, 1770- , 4th
d. of Sir Thomas Pym Hales
of Beaksbourne, Kent, and
y.s. of Mrs. Henry Bridges'
4, 5, 50
Hales, Lady, -1803, widow
(1773) of Sir Thomas Pym
Hales of Beaksbourne, fourth
baronet: 4
Halifax, Emma: see Bather
Hall, Joseph, apparently a ten-
ant of Mrs. Austen: 134
Hall’s (possibly Joseph ?) mead-
ow, Steventon: 25
Hall, Mr., hairdresser (London),
45, 82 -
Hall, Dr. : 19
Hall, Mr. and Mrs., of Sherborne ;
10
Hall, Mrs., nursemaid (?) at
Southampton: 49, 58
Hallett, James, of Higham, near
Bridge, on the Canterbury-
Folkestone road: 47
Hamilton, Mrs., of Canterbury:
Hammond, William, 1752—1821,
of St. Alban’s Court, near
Wingham, Kent; 2 s. 5 d.:
47
Hammond, William Osmund,
1790-1863, e.s. of William H.’
m. 1815, Mary e.d. of Sir Henry
Oxenden: 91, 99
Hammond, Mary, 1794r-
e.d. of Sir Henry Oxenden,
m. 15 July 1815, William Os-
mund H. : 84, 86, 99, 141
Hammond, Maximilian Dudley
Diggs (Dalison), y.s. of Wil-
liam H. : 141
Hammond, Miss, and Julia, two
of the d. of William H. : 91
Hammond, Rev. , presum-
ably curate of Deane in 1808 ;
perhaps James H., who be-
came Rector of Hannington,
Hants, 1814: 61
Hammond, Mr.: perhaps Wil-
liam H. of West Worldham,
Hants: 64, 65
Hampson, Sir Thomas, seventh
baronet, of Taplow, Bucks
(but being a republican did not
use the title), 1765-1820, g.s.
of Sir George V (whose s. Re-
becca m. (1) W. Walter, (2)
William Austen, and was
References are to the numbers of the letters
11. Other Persons
George A.’s m.) ; 1 s. : 44, 70,
80, 91, 98, 99
Hampson, George, 1789-1833,
o.s. of the above : 99
Hancock, Mrs.: 23
Hannah (? Hilliard), maid at
Steventon: 21, 61 (d. of Nanny
Hilliard?); the two Hannahs
are perhaps distinct
Hannah, Mrs. Digweed’s maid:
183
Hanson, Miss : see Portsmouth
Harding, Mrs.: Dyonisia, d. of
Sir Bourchier Wrey, sister of
Mrs. N. Toke, m. 1780 Robert
H. of Upcott, Devon; her
daughter ; (see also Terry,
Thomas): 72
Hare, Miss, milliner: 82, 92, 93,
103
Harpur, mistake for Hawker,
q.v.
Harrison, Charlotte, 5th d. of
Jemima Brydges and s. of
Anne Lefroy ; m. (1) Champion
Branfill (d. 1792) ; Is. Id.
(Jemima B., q.v.) ; (2) John
Harrison of Denne Hill near
Canterbury (d. 1818 s.p.): 90,
91, 93 (381?)
Harrison, John Butler (1), of
Amery, Alton, Hants, friend
of Gibbon and f. of J. B. H.
(2), q.v.
Harrison, John Butler (2), 1767-
, s. of J. B. H. (1), m.
Elizabeth Matilda, d. of Rev.
Henry Austen of Tunbridge
(c. of J. A.’s father); of St.
Mary’s, Southampton ; 6 s. (in-
cluding J. B. H. (3) and Henry
Austen H.), 4 d. See also
Austen, Harriet Leonard: 49,
51, 52, 55, 56, 58, 65, 188
Harrison, John Butler (8), 1790-
, e.s. of J. B. H. (2) ; Magd.
Coll., Oxon.: 55, 56, 65
Harrisons of Andover: conjec-
turally I connect Mary H. of
5 (11, 18) and 6, the Mrs.
Harrison (at Andover) of 28,
‘the Harrison family’ of 38,
and the Rev. William, appa-
rently curate of Overton near
Andover, 72 (283 ; he was s. of
Rev. John H. of Croydon, and
became Vicar of Fareham,
Hants, in 1811); see also
Poore
Harvey, and Richard : 5, 6
Harwood, John, 1747— Jan. 1813,
of Deane House, Hants; m.
Anne , 1752—1842; 3 s. :
1, 6, 11, 17, 23, 24, 25, 30,
31, 49, 77
Harwood, Betty Anna Maria,
1751-1888, s. of John H. the
elder (‘Mrs. Anna H.’ is men-
tioned in Opinions ) : 24, 27
Harwood, Rev. John, 1770-1846,
e.s. of John H., Rector 1799
of Ewhurst; of Deane House
from 1813; unmarried: 5, 14,
15,17, 18, 25, 26, 27, 77, 78, 78.1
Harwood, Earle, R.M., 1773-
1811, 2nd s. of John H. : 10,
14, 22, 25, 26, 62, 64
Harwood, Charles, 1783—1855,
3rd s. of John H. ; m. 1810
Eliza 8rd d. of Thomas Terry
of Dummer: 10, 78.1
Hastings, Warren, 1732-1818, of
Daylesford, Worcestershire : 49
(? 179), 82 (820, 324, his ad-
(or, within brackets , to the pages).
II. Other Persons
miration of Pride and Pteju -
dice; 324, 4 never hinted at
Eliza’)
Hastings, Mrs. ; Marian, second
w. of Warren H. : 28 (95 note
‘like Mrs. Hastings, I do not
despair’), 54 (207 her voyage
down the Ganges)
Hatton, see Finch Hatton
Hawker (not Harpur), Rev. : 86
Hawkins, Mrs., m. of the third
Lady Knatchbull: 58
Hawley, Harriot, 2nd d. of Sir
Henry H. and s. of Lady
Bridges 2nd w. of Sir Brook
B. IV: 90
Hayter, Sir William, 1792-1878,
first bart. ( Braboume ii. 276) :
106
Heartley, Mr. : 2
Heathcote, Sir William, 1746-
1819, third baronet (1787), of
Hursley near Winchester,
M.P. ; m. Frances Thorpe
(d. 1816); 5s. 3d.: 23
Heathcote, Maria Frances, 1787-
, y.d. of Sir William H.,
third baronet; 78 (302?)
Heathcote, Sir Thomas Freeman,
1769-1825, e.s. of Sir William
H., third baronet ; M.P. for
Hants 1808-20 ; fourth baronet,
1819; d.s.p.: 25, 26, 60
Heathcote, Rev. William, 1772-
1802, Prebendary of Winches-
ter and Rector of Worting,
Hants, 2nd s. of Sir William
H., third baronet, and father
of the fifth ; m. 1797 Elizabeth
Bigg; Is.: 1,17,18,25
Heathcote, Elizabeth, 1773-1 855,
4th d. of Lovelace Bigg Wither; |
m. 11 Jan. 1798 Rev. William
H., Rector of Worting, who d.
March 1802 ; 1 s. ; from 1814
lived with her s. Alethea in the
Close, Winchester: 1 , 12, 17,
18, 21, 23, 27, 31, 38, 62, 78,
82 (321), 85, 86, 91, 108, 125,
145, 146
Heathcote, Sir William, 17 May
1801-81, fifth baronet (1825),
o.s. of Rev. William H.: 38
(135), 62, 139, 146
Heathcote, Gilbert, Captain R.N.,
1779-1831, 5th son of Sir Wil-
liam H,, third baronet, m. 1809
Ann Lyell : 60
Heathcote, Harriet, 1775-1850,
2nd (but in 1796 eldest surviv-
ing) d. of Sir William H,, third
baronet: 1
Herington, Mr., innkeeper (?) at
Guildford: 79, 80, 92
Herries, Miss and others (Miss
Isabella H. is mentioned in
Opinions ) ; Miss I. H. (d. 1870)
was sister of Rt. Hon. J. C. H.,
1778-1855, of 21 Cadogan-
place, Sloane-street : 111, 117
Hey, Dr. and Mrs., probably of
Wingham House, Kent: 12
Heywood, Mrs., 1732-1824, of
Above Bar, Southampton,
widow of Lt.-Col. H., Mayor
of Southampton 1800-1: 55
Hibbs, John, hosier in High-
street, Southampton: 56
Hill, Rev. Herbert, 1749-1828,
Rector 1810 of Streatham,
Surry, and 1815 of Worting,
Hants ; m. Oct. 1808 Catherine
Bigg (see Bigg and Bigg
Wither) ; their children in-
References are to the numbers of the letters
11. Other Persons
eluded Herbert 1810 (who m.
Southey’s d. Bertha), Errol
1812, and Alfred Wither 14
March 1815: 58, 90, 108, 139
Hill, Catherine, 1778-18 , 5th
d. of Lovelace Bigg Wither of
Manydown, m. Oct. 1808 Rev.
Herbert H., q.v.: 14, 15, 17,
18, 21, 23, 24, 20, 27, 28, 81,
82, 84, 85, 87, 47, 52, 55, 56,
57, 58, 59, 09, 70, 80, 89, 91,
93, 94, 108, 139
Hill, Rev. Hugh, D.D., Rector
of Holy Rood, Southampton,
and of Church Oakley (which
is close to Deane), 1792-1824 ;
Mrs. H. : 01
Hilliard, Nanny (probably of
Steventon, where 1795 a John
H. m. an Anne Knight) : 01
Hinchman, Mr.: probably Tho-
mas Henchman, 1748-1804
(Holzman, J. M., The Nabobs
in England, New York 1920,
p. 145) : 80 (100 note)
Hinton, John Knight, 1774-1840,
o.s. of Rev. John H., Rector
of Chawton 1744—1802, whose
wife (he m. his cousin, Martha
Hinton) is described as sole
representative of the Knights
of Chawton (Burke’s Com-
moners, 1831, i. 515; Chawton
Manor and its Owners, 1911,
171 and 188): 75, 93 (383— see
also Baverstock), 97
Hinton, Miss, a sister of the
above: 84
Hoare, Mr. and Mrs. : 15
Hoblyn.Mrs. and others (perhaps
Thomas H. of 125 Sloane-
street): 79, 80, 99
Hogben or Hogbin, John, 1772—
1841, parish clerk of Godmer-
shnm: 85 (889)
Holder, William Thorpe, c. 1745-
87, e.s. of William T. (who died
in Barbados 1752) ; Trin. Coll.,
Oxon.; m. Philippa Elliot
t who after his death lived
at Batliford and at 16 St.
James Square, Walcot, Bath:
2 s. (John Hooper, q.v., and
William Philip, 1772—97), 2 d.
(Margaret Dehany, q.v., and
Philippa Harbin, who d. be-
fore 1801); Mrs. Holder d.
(Sept.?) 1813 : 37, 88, 89, 48,
68, 87
Holder, John Hooper, s. of Wil-
liam Thorpe H. ; of Cerney
House, Glos.; m. (1) 1808
Elizabeth y.d. of Hon. Wil-
liam Hewitt (one d., Elizabeth
Philippa), who d. Jan. 1810 ;
(2) 1812 Anne, y.d. of Rev.
Jeffery Ekins, Dean of Car-
lisle : 27, 39, 63, 87
Holder, Margaret Dehany , d. Oct.
1809, d. of William Thorpe H. :
37, 88, 39, 63
Holder, James (of Merton Coll.,
Oxon., b. 1747), y.b. of William
Thorpe H. and u. of John
Hooper H.; tenant of Ashe
Park, Hants (see Portal,
William) from 1790 or earlier
to 1804 or later: 14, 17, 25, 30,
31, 32, 33, 87
Holder, Mr. (a second): perhaps
Joseph H. of Deane, who 1805
m. Mary Tolfree of Ashe: 32
Holwell, see Children
Home [Hume], Sir Everard,
s s
(or, within brackets, to the pages).
II. Other Persons
Bart., 1750-1832, of 80 Sack-
ville-street : 141, 142, 143
Iloneywood, Sir John, 1787-
1832, fifth baronet, of Eving-
ton, Kent, m. 1808, Mary
Anne, d. of Sir William Henry
Cooper, Bart. : 91
Hook, Miss M., -1816, d. of
Brig.-Gen. H. : 62
Hookey, Mrs., widow, chemist
and lodging - house keeper,
Southampton: 62, 64
Hope, Mrs., see Finch-Hatton,
Louisa
Hore, Mrs.: Ill
Howard, Lord: 90
Hughes, Mrs., and children : 53
Hulbert, the two Mrs., of Speen
Hill, Berks.: 17, 60, 61, 62,
84, 129
Humphries, Mrs. : 8
Husket, Mr. : 49
Hussey, Ed : 87
Hutchins, Mary: 15
Inglis, Capt. R.N. : 32, 34
Inman, Rebecca, 1738-1815, of
Ashford; buried at Godmer-
sham: 51 (191 note), 52, 53
Iremonger, Miss, presumably of
Wherwell Priory, near An-
dover: 27
Irvine, Mrs. and Miss, Lansdown
(probably 19 New Crescent),
Bath : 39, 43, 44, 47, 48, 50, 63
Isaac: 44
Isham, Rev. Dr. Edmund, d.
1819, Warden of All Souls
1793-1817: 84
Jackson, Alicia: see Gunthorpe j
Jackson, Mr.: Ill
James, the Austens’ servant at
Lyme: 39
Jeffereys, Toomer, and Levee : 17
Jenkins, Mr. : 18
Jenny, Mrs. James Austen’s
maid : 11
Jenny, the Austens’ maid at
Lyme, Bath, and Southamp-
ton: 39, 43, 48, 49, (?) 66
Jervoise, Colonel George Pure-
foy, of Herriard, Hants, m.
1798 Elizabeth Hall of Preston
Candover: 18
John, the Austens’ coachman at
Steventon: 19, 34
John, Henry Austen’s coach-
man: 92, 99
Johncock, butler at Godmer-
sham: 86, 90
Johnson, Rev. Augustus, d. 1799,
Rector 1791-9 of Hamstall-
Ridware, Staffs.: 18
Jordan, Mrs. : 30
Julien, Comte: see D’Entraigues
K., Mrs. E.: 56 (215 note)
Kean, Edmund, 1787-1833, ac-
tor: 92, 93
Keith, Lord: George Keith El-
phinstone, 1746-1823, admiral ;
Baron K., 1797: 27
Kelly, Mrs.: 117
Kemble, Mr.: 31
Kendall, R.N. : 87
Kennet, Mrs. : 51
Kerr, Lady Robert: Lord R. K.,
1780—1843, y.s. of 5th Marquis
of Lothian, m. 1806 Mary Gil-
bert, of Cornwall, who d. 1861
(mentioned Opinions ): 82, 85
Keith, Lady: see after Index II
Kew, Dame: 15
References are to the numbers of the letters
11. Other Persons
Knatchbull, Sir Edward, eighth
baronet of Mersham Hatch,
Kent, 1759-1819; succeeded
his f. 1789 ; m. (1) Mary Hug-
esson, co-heiress of Provender,
Kent, who d. 1784 (1 s., Sir
Edward IX) ; (2) Frances Gra-
ham, who d. 1799 (several
children, including Rev. Dr.
Wyndham K., q.v.); (3) Mary
Hawkins, co-heiress of Nash
Court, Kent, who d. 1850 (2 s.
6 d.) ; the Knatchbulls of 91
are no doubt members of this
family
Knatchbull, Edward, 1781-1849,
of Provender, Kent, e.s. of Sir
Edward VIII, whom he suc-
ceeded 1819 as ninth baronet ;
m. (1) 1806 Annabella Chris-
tiana d. of Sir John Honey-
wood, who d. 1814 (several
children); (2) 1820 Fanny
Kni ght, q.v. in Index I (several
children, including Edward
first Lord Brabourne, editor of
the Letters ) : 53
Knatchbull, Charles, 1747—1818,
Capt. R.N., e.b. of Wyndham
K. of Russell-place and c. of
Sir Edward VIII ; m. his
cousin Frances, heiress of
Babington, Som., who d. 1818 :
45, 46, 52, 53, 84, 85
Knatchbull, Wyndham, 1750-
1833, of Russell-place, mer-
chant, cousin of Sir Edward
VIII ; m. his cousin Catherine
Maria (s. of Sir Edward) who
d. 1807 ; his children included
Wyndham and Wadham, q.v.:
49, 70, 71, 84, 85, 89
Knatchbull, Wyndham, d. 1818,
s. of Wyndham K. of Russell-
place, Ensign in the first regi-
ment of foot-guards : 89
Knatchbull, Wadham, 1794-
1876, s. of Wyndham K. of
Russell-place: 84
Knatchbull, Rev. Dr. Wynd-
ham, 1786-1868, s. of Sir Ed-
ward VIII (by his second wife):
92, 93
Knatchbull, Lady, the third w.
of Sir Edward VIII, q.v. : 53
Knatchbull, Joan Elizabeth, d.
1801, of Canterbury, cousin of
Sir Edward VIII: 6
Knight, Mrs. Catherine, 1753—
14 Oct. 1812, 8. of Charles
Knatchbull R.N. and of Wynd-
ham K. (c. of Sir Edward K.
VIII) and widow of Thomas
Knight of Godmersham, who
d. 1794; of White Friars,
Canterbury: 4, 17, 32, 45, 47,
48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 58, 60,
61, 69, 70, 71, 73, 74.1, 85
Knight, Hannah (a maid): 84
Knight, Harriet (perhaps a vil-
lage child, cf. Hannah K.) : 136
L., Dame: perhaps Libscombe,
q.v.
Lambould, Mr. (a tradesman):
31
Lance, of Netherton : 21(?), 48
' Lance, David, of Chessel (Chis*
well), Lance’s Hill, Bitterne,
near Southampton; in. Mary,
o.d. of Valentine Fitzhugh;
their daughters, Mary (1798)
and Emma (1799): 48, 60, 61,
62, 65
or within brackets, to the pages}*
II. Other Persons
Lane, Mr. : 18
Langley, Miss: 36
Lansdowne, John Henry, 1765-
1809, second (and ‘wicked’)
Marquis of, m. Mary Arabella,
d. of Rev. Hinton Maddox and
widow of Sir Duke Gifford;
d.s.p. : 49, 55
Latouche, Mrs., probably of
14 Portman-street, Portman-
square (but a Miss La T. is re-
corded as living at Barnes next
door to Corate D’Entraigues,
q.v.): 70, 99, 116, 117
Laurel, Mrs. : 30
Layton and Shears, mercers,
Bedford House, 11 Henrietta-
street, Covent-garden : 80, 82,
90
Ledger, Misses: 1
Lee, Miss; probably a sister of
Richard L., who 1801 m.
Elizabeth e.d. of William
Prowting, q.v. : 73
Lee, Miss: 91
Lefevre, Mrs., w. of C. Shaw L.,
of Heckfield, Hants : 1
Lefroy, Rev. Isaac Peter George,
1745-1806, s. of Anthony L.
(1703); of Ewshot; Rector of
Ashe, Hants ; m. 1778, Anne,
s. of Sir Samuel Egerton
Brydges ; 8 s. 1 d. : 24, 29
Lefroy, Anne, 1749-16 Dec.1804,
s. of Sir Samuel Egerton
Brydges and w. of Isaac Peter
George L.: 1, 11, 14, 15, 16,
18, 20, 24, 31, 91
Lefroy, Rev. J ohn Henry George,
1782-1823, of Ewshot ; e.s. of
I. P. G. L. ; Rector 1806 of
Ashe, Hants ; m. 1806 Sophia,
y.d. of Rev. Charles Cottrell,
Rector of Hadley, Middlesex
(‘Mrs. Lefroy’ is in Opinions ) ;
numerous issue: 1, 15, 17
Lefroy, Christopher Edward,
1785- , y.s. of I. P. G. L. : 133
Lefroy, Rev. Benjamin, 1791-
1829, y.s. of Isaac Peter George
L. ; Merton Coll., Oxon. ; Rec-
tor 1823 of Ashe, Hants; m,
Nov. 1814, Anna, e.d. of James
Austen, q.v. in Index I; 1 s.
6 d.: 84, 85, 89, 90, 99, 101,
105, 106 (p. 416), 110, 183, 134,
139, 140, 142
Lefroy, Lucy, see Rice, Lucy
Lefroy, Thomas Langlois, 1776-
1869, s. of Anthony Peter L.
(1742) and n. of I. P. G. L. ;
Ch. Justice of Ireland: 1, 2, 11
Lefroy, Sarah, 1773-1836, 8rd d.
of Anthony Peter L. of Carrig-
glas, co. Longford, and s. of
Thomas Langlois L. ; ‘the
third Miss Irish Lefroy’; m.
1799 Capt. Thomas Courtenay:
14
Leigh, Theophilus, of Adlestrop,
Glos., d. 1724, grandfather of
(1) Rev. Thomas L. of Adle-
strop, q.v.; (2) Cassandra L.
(Cooke), q.v. ; (8) James (Leigh
Perrot), Jane Leigh (Cooper),
and Cassandra Leigh (Austen),
qq.v. : not mentioned
Leigh, Hon. Mary, d. 1800, s. of
Edward, fifth and last Baron
Leigh, who d. s.p. 1786 ; life-
heir to the Stoneleigh estates :
18, 60
LEIGH, Rev. THOMAS ,
1813, Rector of Adlestrop;
Ref i erences are to the numbers of the letters
II. Other Persons
succeeded to the Stoneleigh
estates on the death 1806 of
Hon. Mary L. ; m. his c. Mary
L. (d. 1707), but d. s.p.: 50
(182), 54, 00, 81
LEIGH , ELIZABETH,
Apr. 1810, s. of Rev. Thomas
Leigh; always referred to as
‘Mrs. E. Leigh* (except 128,
where it is ‘Miss’) ; godmother
to Cassandra Austen; 12, 27,
49, 56, 02 (244), 63, 05, 60, 81
(316), 84, 128
LEIGH, JAMES HENRY, 1765-
1823, of Adlestrop and (1813)
of Stoneleigh (succeeding his
uncle Rev. Thomas L.); m.
1786 Hon. Judith Julia Twisle- !
ton, e.d. of the 13th Lord Saye
and Scle (d. 1843): 75, 81
(316), 84
Leigh, Rev. Thomas, d. 1763,
Rector of Harpsden (Harden),
Oxon. ; s. of Theophilus L. of
Adlestrop, q.v. ; m. Jane Wal-
ker, 1704-68; f. of James
Leigh (Perrot), of Jane Cooper,
and of Cassandra Austen,
qq.v.: not mentioned
LEIGH PERROT, JAMES,
17 -1817, o.s. (?) of Thomas
L. of Harpsden; of Scarlets,
Berks., and Paragon, Bath ,
later, 49 Pulteney-st., Bath;
m. Jane Cholmeley ; d. s.p. ;
commonly referred to as my
Uncle*: 20, 22, 35, 36, 37, 38,
39, 40, 43, 44, 49, 50, 54, 61,
72, 78, 112, 128, 142, 144
LEIGH PERROT, JANE, 1744-
1836, w. of the above; com-
monly referred to as my
Aunt’*: 10, 22, 27, 20, 80, 81,
85, 86, 37, 88, 39, 40, 44, 50,
60, 81, 68, 72, 78, 81, 112, 128,
144, 145
LEIGH, JANE, e.d. of Thomas
L. of Harpsden: see Cooper
LEIGH, CASSANDRA, y.d. of
Thomas L. of Harpsden: see
Austen in Index I
Letty (a maid?): 13
Levcn and Melville, Alexander,
earl of, 1749-1 820 ; his countess,
and d. Lady Marianne Leslie-
Melville ; see also Balgonie : 44
Lewis: see Blackall
Libscombe, Dame: 84 (? 382), 88
Lillingstone, Mrs., nte Dottin, of
10 Rivers-street, Bath : 35, 86,
37, 38
Limprey, Mr.: 4
Linneus: 81
Liston, John, 1776 (?}-1846, ac-
tor: 94
Littlehales, Dr. : 25
Littlewart, Nanny: 12 (see also
Nanny)
Littleworth, J.: 84
Lloyd, Martha, -16 Apr.
1805, d. of Hon. Charles Cra-
ven, Governor of S. Carolina
(who m. Elizabeth Staples),
and s. of Mrs. Thomas Fowle
(1), q.v. ; m. 1763 Rev. Nowis
(or Noyes) L., 1720—89, R.
(? 1771) of Enborne near New-
bury ; as a widow rented the
parsonage at Deane and later
moved to Ibthrop; 3d. (1)
Eliza Fowle, q.v. ; (2) Martha,
2nd w. of Francis Austen, see
Index I ; (3) Mary, 2nd w. of
James Austen, see Index I:
(or, within brackets , to the pages).
II. Other Persons
18 (85), 24, 25, 26, 80, 85, 36,
89, 43
Lloyd, Mrs., apparently a friend
of Miss Sharpe, not connected
with Martha L. : 78
Lockyer (Locker) : see Pearson
Lodge, Jane: see Lyford, Jane
Long, Flora: presumably d. of
Florentina Wrey, sister of Mrs.
Harding and Mrs. N. Toke,
who m. Richard Long of Rood
Aston : 72
Louch, Mr. : 97
Louis XIV : 70
Lovett, John : 4, 5
Lucan, Richard, second Earl of,
1764-1839 : 49 '
Ludlow, Mr. : Arnold, widower,
of Andover, m. Jan. 1799 Sal
Pugh, of Andover : 17
Lushington, Stephen Rumbold,
1776-1868, of Norton Court,
Kent, 4th s, of Sir Stephen L.,
first baronet ; M.P. for Canter-
bury 1812: 86, 87
Lyddy: 56
Lyell, Mrs., widow of Charles
L. of Kinnordy, Forfarshire,
settled in Southampton 1808
with her s. and 2 d., Mary and
Anne (Mrs. Gilbert Heathcote,
q.v.): 55, 60
Lyford, John, 1740-1829, sur-
geon of Basingstoke ; probably
s. of Giles L. (1700—83, mayor
of Basingstoke) and b. of
Charles L. (surgeon of Win-
chester) ; m. 1 766 Mary Wind-
over ; 2 s. 1 d. : 10, 13, 52 (see
note), 55, 56 ; his wife, 81
Lyford, John, 1769-12 June
1799, e.s. of the above ; Eton,
Queen’s Coll., Oxon., Lincoln’s
Inn; m. 19 April 1799 Jane
d. of John Lodge of Great
Blakenham, Suffolk: 1, 2 14
18, 22
Lyford, Jane, w. of the above •
14, 22, 30
Lyford, Charles, 1778-1859, y.s.
of John L. of Basingstoke,
whose partner and successor
he became : 55, 98
Lyford, Mary Susannah, see
Digweed
Lyford, Giles King, c. 1764-1837,
surgeon of Winchester; s. of
Charles L., surgeon of W., and
probably n. of John L. of
Basingstoke; surgeon in ordi-
nary at the County Hospital:
145, 146, 147
Lynch, John, 1735-1803: 6
Lysons, Mrs., (probably w. of Dr.
L., 3 Paragon-buildings,) Bath:
38
M., Miss : 1
Mackays : 44
Maitland, Jane, 1757-1830, d. of
General Mathew, sister of
James Austen’s first w., and
widow (1797) of Thomas M.
of Lyndhurst; 5s. 3d.; of
Albion-place, Southampton :
27, 51, 54, 55, 56, 66
Maitland, Sir Peregrine, 1777-
1854, e.s. of Thomas and Jane
M. ; Lt.-Col. 1803: 66
Maitland, Caroline, 1782-1830,
2nd d. of Thomas M., m. 1812
Capt. William Roberts, R.A. :
27, 51, 55, 56, 65, 66
Maitland, Eliza, 3rd d. of Thomas
References are to the numbers of the letters
II. Other Persons
M. (unmarried at the date of I
her sister Caroline s wedding
1812): 27, 51, 55, 50, 06 1
Maitland, Mr. Mrs. and 3 (not 10)
children: 37
Malings, the : probably Mrs. M.
of 21 Hans- place, or C.l.ivi. oi
146 Sloane-street : 116, 118
Manon : 69 (268 note)
Manhood (?), Mr. and Mrs. : 39
Mant, Rev. Richard, D.D., i
1817, Hector (1793) of All
Saints, Southampton, and Mrs.
M. ; the unmarried dd. kept
school in his house: 59, 64?, 65, 91
Mant, Mr.: doubtless Henry M.,
attorney, 23 Gay-street, Bath :
Mapleton, , M.D., physician,
14 Belmont, Bath; his dd.,
Jane, Marianne (d. 18 May
1801), Christian(a) : 11, 20,22,
36,37,38 I
March, Charles Earl of, e.s. of the
Duke of Richmond, m. 1®
April 1817, Lady Caroline
Paget, e.d. of the Marquis of
Anglesey: 141
Marlow, Rev. Dr. Michael, 1769-
1828, President 1795—1828 of
St. John’s Coll., Oxon., Pre-
bendary of Canterbury. (The
copy of the Loiterer referred to
in the note on p. 91 identifies
‘Marlow’ as the ideal college
tutor described in No. 58 of
that periodical) : 54
Marriot, Mrs. : 23
Marsden, Miss (hypothetical) .14
Marshall, Mr. and Mrs., of The
George, Sittingbourne, Kent:
18, 51
Martha, the Leigh-Perrots’ maid :
63
Martin, Mrs., circulating library:
14, 23
Mary, Queen (of Scots ?) : 49
Mary, at Rowling : 7
Mary : a maid at Chawton ? : 87
Mascall, Robert: 86, 87, 116
Mathew, Brownlow (Bertie 1819),
-1826, o.s. of Edward M. ;
Univ. Coll., Oxon.; m. 1807
Henrietta Anne d. of North
Taylor ; 16, 27, 64
Mathew, Edward, 1728-1805
(born in Antigua), of Clanville
Lodge near Andover, and
Argyll-street ; General 1797;
C.-in-C. of the Windward and
Leeward Is. ; m. (not in 1748
as is usually stated, but c.1760)
Lady Jane Bertie, 3rd d. of
the 2nd Duke of Ancaster
(who d. 1793); Is., Brown-
low; 3d., Jane (Maitland),
1 Anne (Austen), and Penelope
Susannah (Dewar): 16, 27
' Mathews, Charles, 1776-1835,
actor: 70, 94
Maxwell, Mr.: 60
May, Mr.: 13
Meyer, junior, of Upper
Mary lebone- street, teacher o
the harp: 118
I Middleton, John Charles, of
I Hinton Ampner, Hants; m.
* 1793 Charlotte, e.d. of Francis
Beckford of Basing (and s. of
Maria B., q.v.), who d. 1803;
l ! tenant 1808-12 of Chawton
3 Manor: 77, 81
: I Middleton, John, s. of John
Charles M. : 77
(or, within brackets, to the pages).
II. Other Persons
Middleton, Susan, e.d. of John
Charles M. : 70, 105
Middleton, Charlotte Maria, y.d.
of John Charles M. : 72, 73, 74,
105
Middleton, Mrs., a farmer’s wife ;
63
Mildmay, Jane, e.d. and co-heir-
ess of Carew M. of Shawford,
Hants; m. 1786 Sir Henry
Paulet St. John of Moulsham,
Essex, 3rd baronet, who 1790
took the name of M, ; her
e.s. was Henry, afterwards
(1808) 4th baronet: 15, 17
Miller, Robert, pastry-cook, 143
High-street, Southampton : 56
Miller, Sir Thomas, Bart., d. 4
Sept. 1816: 133
Milles, Richard, -1818, of
Nackington, Kent, M.P. for
Canterbury; m. Mary, d. of
Rev. Thomas Tanner, Pre-
bendary of Canterbury ; Id.,
Mary Lady Sondes, q.v. : 6, 31,
53, 54, 66 (262), 84
Milles, Mrs. Charles, 1723-6
March 1817, widow (1749) of
Charles M,, uncle of Richard
M, of Nackington; her d.
‘Molly’ or ‘Moy’: 45, 47, 52
(193, 195), 74, 84, 86, 89, 141
Millman, — M.D, : 22
Mitchell, Sarah : 92
Moira, Lord, 1754-1826, first
Marquis of Hastings : 50
Molly, the Austens’ maid : 10, 24,
89, 48
Montresor, General Sir Henry
Tucker, 1767-1837, K.C.B.;
of Nash Court, Kent. ; m. Jan.
1809 Lady Sondes, q.v.: 62
Montresor, Mary Lucy, s. of
Henry M.; m. Sept. 1801
Lt.-Gen. Sir F. W. Mulcaster:
13, 17
Moore, Dr. 1729-1802, and Mrs.
M., f. and m. of Sir John M. :
65, 66
Moore, General Sir John, 1761-
1809:65, 66
Moore, Rt. Rev. John, 1730-
1805, son of a butcher in
Gloucester, Archbishop of Can-
terbury 1783-1805 ; m, Cath-
erine, d. of Sir Robert Eden:
90
Moore, Rev. George, e.s. of John
Archbishop of Canterbury ;
Rector of Wrothara, Kent;
m. 1806 Harriot Mary, 6th d.
of Sir Brook Bridges III: 49,
51, 52, 53, 54, 69, 86, 87, 88, 89
Moore, Harriot Mary, 1781-1840,
6th d. of Sir Brook Bridges III,
m. 1806, Rev. George Moore:
5, 15, 17, 45, 46, 47, 49, 51, 52,
53, 56, 57, 74, 87, 88, 89, 90,
93, 141
Moore, Caroline, Eleanor, George,
Harriot, children of Rev.
George M.: 52, 87, 89, 141
Moore, Mrs., of the Oaks, Canter-
bury: 53 (201 note), 54
Moore, Miss H, and Miss Eliza,
of Hanwell (Miss Harriet M. is
mentioned in Opinions ): 93,
105, 106
Morgan, schoolmaster in Bath:
43
Morgan, Miss: 13
Morley, Countess of: second wife,
1809, of Lord Boringdon, who
became 1815 Earl of Morley;
References are to the numbers of the letters
II. Other Persons
(mentioned in Opinions): 117,
123a, 123
Morley, the Misses: 27
Morrell, James(conjectureforMo-
well in Brabourne ), of 1 St. Giles,
Oxford ; and Mrs. M. ; parents
of Deacon M., q.v. : 12, 66
Morrell, Rev. Deacon, 1775-
1854, e.s. of the above ; of
Christ Church, Oxon. (M.A.
1799, and student) and of
Lincoln’s Inn; of Moulsford,
Berks., and Sackville-st. : 66
Morrises : perhaps Morrices of
Betshanger: 52
Morton, Mr. : 74.1
Mowell, Mr.: perhaps a mistake
for Morrell, q.v. : 12
Mulcaster, Miss, see Montresor,
Mary: 13
Murden, Jane, d. of M. and
Christian (sister of Rev.
Thomas Fowle (1), q.v.); of
Southampton: 61, 62, 64, 66,
74.1 (for her opinion of
Emma see Opinions), 78.1
Murray, John, 1778-1843, pub-
lisher: 111, 115, 116, 117, 120
Musgrove, Miss : 5
Mussell, Mrs., dressmaker in
Bath (perhaps w. of William
M., hairdresser, 9 Queen-
street): 35, 38
Nanny, at Steventon: 10, 12, 33
(perhaps Littlewart, q.v.)
Newton, Isaac, linen-draper, 14
Leicester-square : 83, 93
Nibbs, Mr. : 29 (see Addenda
after Index VIII)
North, Rt. Rev. Brownlow,
1741-1820, Bishop of Win-
chester 1781-1820: 13, 72
North, Miss: 20
Nottley, Mr. (? landlord of the
Bull and George, Dartford): 9
Nunes, Mrs. : 60, 64
Nutt, Mr. : 22
Ogle, Mr. : 90
O’Neal: Eliza O’Neill, 1791-
1872, actress: 105, 106
O’Neil, Mr., drawing-master: 86
Orde, William: 15
Orde, Rev. John 1770- ,
Lincoln Coll., Oxon., V. (1802?)
of Kingsclere, Hants: 15
Orde, James, Lt.-Col. 90th Foot,
m. 15 May 1811 Margaret, e.d.
of W. Beckford of Fonthill : 72
Orleans, Duke and Duchess of:
132, 133
Osborne, Mr. and Mrs. : 91
Owen, Mrs. : 36
Oxenden, Sir Henry, 1756-1838,
seventhbaronet( 1803) of Deane
Park, Wingham, and Broome
House, Kent. ; m. 1795, Mary
Graham ; 9 children : 12
Oxenden, Mary, see Hammond,
Mary
Oxenden, Miss : 91
Oxford: see at end of Index II
P., Mr. and Miss : 111
Paget, Rev. and Mrs. P. : 85,
86, 91
Paget, Lady Caroline : see March
Paine, Farmer: 29
Painter and Pridding, Andover:
28
|j
Palmer, John Grove, —1832,
Attorney- General of Bermuda ;
of 22 Keppel-street, Russell-
square; m. Dorothy Ball;
their dd. Frances and Harriet
(or, within brackets , to the pages).
II. Other Persons
were the wives of Charles
Austen, q.v. in Index 1: 58, 62,
103, 117, 118, 133 (463), 144
Palmer, Mrs. and Miss (perhaps
not the same as above): 133
(466)
Papillon, Thomas, 1757-1838, of
Acrise, Kent. ; a distant con-
nexion of the Knights of
Chawton; he, or one of his
brothers (other than John R.
P., q.v.) is presumably the
‘Kentish Papillon’ occupying
Chawton House in 1816: 91,
133
Papillon, Rev. John Rawston
(orRawstome), y.b. ofThomas
P., Rector of Chawton 1801-37 ;
his s. Elizabeth (p. 469) ; their
niece Eleanor : 61, 74, 75, 76,
81, 92 (? 376), 97, 100, 111
(? 425), 134,139,142
Parry, Caleb Hillier, M.D., 1756-
1822, physician, 27 Circus,
Bath : 82, 87, 90, 91, 93
Paul, St. : 85
Payne, Mr.; Payne, Miss, ‘our
cousin ’ : probably descendants
of Capel P., who m. Jane, s. of
Sir George Hampson V and of
Rebecca (Walter) Austen; see
Hampson : 30, 71
Payne, of Ashford : 65
Peach, Rev. , Curate of
Wootton: 72
Pearson, Sir Richard, 1731—1805,
Capt. R.N., Kt. ; officer of
Greenwich Hospital, and Lt.-
Governor 3 Jan. 1801 (suceed-
ing Capt. Locker) ; 2 d., Mary
and Hannah Frances: 3, 4, 6,
7. 22, 29, 49 (see note)
Pellew, Admiral Sir Edward, first
Baron Exmouth, 1757-1833 : 69
Penlington, Tallow Chandler,
Crown & Beehive, Charles-
street, Covent-Garden: 6, 24,
32
Percival, Edward, M.B., 1783-
1819, physician at Southamp-
ton, s. of Dr. P. (see Index V) :
56
Percy [Piersy], Mrs., see
Gardiner
Perigord, Mrs., Henry Austen’s
servant ; 79, 82, 89, 92, 138 ;
her mother (? Mme. Bigeon,
q.v.), 79, 133
Peters, Mr. : 24 (80, note)
Phebe, the Austens’ maid at
Southampton : 48
Philip V of Spain : 70
Philips, Mr., proprietor of 12
Green ParkBuildings, Bath : 38
Philips or Phillips, Mr,: 80, 89,
116
Phillott, Ven. James, D.D.,
1749—1815, Rector and Arch-
deacon of Bath; Parsonage-
house, Borough-Walls ; m.
Oct. 1808 Lady Frances St.
Lawrence, 3rd d. of the first
Earl of Howth ; she died 1842 ;
Lord Howth in 1800 resided at
1 Russell-street : 59
Philmore, John, 1747-17 March
1817, yeoman, of Chawton, m.
Rachel Stubbington, 1737-
1809, of Chawton; ‘Mrs. P’,
their daughter?: 78, 142, 78.1
Pickford, Mr. and Mrs. : 37, 38
Pilkington, Sir Thomas, 1773-
1811, seventh baronet, of
Chevot near Wakefield, m.
References are to the numbers of the letters
II. Other Persons
1797, Elizabeth Anne Tufnell
(who d. 1842) ; four d. : 97, 145
Pilkington, Lady, w. of Sir
Thomas P,, q.v.
Pilkington, Sir William,
1850, eighth baronet, y.b. of Sir
Thomas P.: 97, 133
Pinckards, the: 39
Plumtre (Plumptre, Plumtree,
Plumbtree), John, c. 1760-
1827, of Fredville, Kent, m.
1788 Charlotte Pemberton ;
numerous issue : 89
Plumtre, John Pemberton, 1791-
1864, e.s. of John P. ; St.
John’s Coll., Camb. ; m. 1818 ;
(mentioned in Opinions): 84,
86, 93, 94, 99, 103, 106, 140
(480), 141 (483)
Plumtre, Emma, see Gipps
Plumtre, Mary Louisa, 3rd d. of
John P.: 73, 74, 84, 86, 89, 91,
103 (410?)
Plumtre, Frances Matilda, y.d.
of John P., m. 29 July 1816
Robert Ramsden: 141 (483?)
Pococke, Mr.: 133
Pollens, two Mrs., of Above Bar,
Southampton: 55
Poore, Philip Henry, surgeon, of
Andover, m. Sept, 1797 Mary
Harrison ; her m., Mrs. H. : 28.
See also Harrison, Mary
Portal, William, 1755-1846, of
Laverstoke, Hants, and owner
of Ashe Park ; Id.; (Mrs. P.
is mentioned in Opinions ) : 24,
25, 30, 143
Portal, John, 1764^-1848, y.b. of
William P.; ofFreefolk, Hants ;
twice married, and several
children : 1 , 24
Portal, Rev. Benjamin William,
1768-1812,e.s.of WilliamPortal
of Camberwell, and connected
with the Hants Portals ; of St,
John’s Coll., Oxon. ; contri-
buted to The Loiterer edited by
James Austen ; Fellow 1788 ;
Rector of Wasing: 1, 21
Portman, Mrs., presumably w. of
Edward Berkley P., of Brian-
stone, Dorset, who m. Aug.
1798: 11
Portmore, William Charles Col-
year, 3rd Earl, 1745-1823, of
Ham Haw Park near Chertsey,
Surry ; see also Brecknell : 51
Portsmouth, Lord : John Charles,
1767-1853, third earl 1797 ; of
Hurstbourn, Hants ; George
Austen’s pupil, as Lord Lym-
ington, 1773 (Life 21); m. (1)
19 Nov. 1799, Grace, d. of first
Lord Grantley; (2) 7 March
1814, Anne, d. of John Hanson
of Bloomsbury-place ; see also
Wallop : 24, 25, 26 (88), 94
Potter, Mrs., lodging-house keep-
er, High-street, Cheltenham :
133
Pottinger, Mrs. : 66
Powlett, Thomas Norton, Lt.-
Col. 1802, Major-General 1814,
d. 1824; of Southampton (at
‘ Argyle’s inner house’, Albion-
place, 1808) ; m. Miss Percival:
52, 55
Powlett, , b. of Lt.-Col. P. :
55
Powlett, Mrs. n6e Percival, w. of
Lt.-Col. P. ; eloped 1808: 52
(note)
Powlett, Rev. Charles, 1765-
(or, within brackets , to the pages)*
II. Other Persons
1884, apparently curate at
Winslade, Hants, in 1798, and
later at Dumrner, Itchinstoke,
Twyford; m. 1796 Anne,
1772-1827, e.d. of Rev. Wil-
liam Johnstone Temple, Vicar
of St. Gluvias, Cornwall (Bos-
well’s correspondent): 2, 13,
14, 80
Powys, Thomas, 1736-1809,
Dean of Canterbury 1797-
1809: 52
Price, see Rice
Prince Regent, the, afterwards
George IV: 81, 96 (389), 97
(see Granby), 118, 113a, 115,
117, 118, 120, 121, 126a, 126,
127 ; the Princess, 78.1
Prowting, William, d. 1821,
J.P., D.L., of Chawton; his
e.d. Elizabeth m. 1801 Richard
Lee; his 2nd d. Catherine
Ann, q.v. ; his y.d. Ann Mary
m. B. Clement, q.v. : 72, 73, 74,
78, 78.1, 97, 138
Prowting, Catherine Ann, 1783-
1848, 2nd d. of the above: 148
Pugh, Miss, see Ludlow
Pyne, Mr.: 39
Rawstorn (or Rawston), see
Papillon
Rebecca, Mrs. Edward Austen’s
maid: 19
Remmington, Wilson and Co.,
Silk-manufacturers, 30 Milk- :
street: 88
Remnant, T., Glover, &c., 126
Strand : 80
Reynolds, Sir Joshua, P.R.A.,
1723-92 : 80
Rice: sometimes printed Price |
in Brabourne ; J. A. writes R
Trith an exaggerated tail,
easily misread as Pr
Rice, Mrs., of Dover, - Kent,
widow of HenryR, ofBramling,
near Canterbury, m. of Rev.
Henry R, : 31, 33.
Rice, Rev. Henry, -1860,
I e. s. of the above ; of Tollard
Royal, Wilts. ; m. 20 July 1801
Lucy Lefroy : 15, 27, 30, 81 , 33,
88
Rice, Jemima Lucy, 1779-1862,
o.d. of Isaac P, G. Lefroy, m.
20 July 1801 Rev. Henry Rice :
6, 14, 27, 33, 38, 44
Richard, Henry Austen’s ser-
vant: 93, 99, 116
Richis, servant at Rowling: 5
Richmond, Duchess of, see
March, Earl of
Rider or Ryder, Mr. and Mrs.,
tradespeople at Basingstoke:
10, 23, 32
Ripley, Rev. Thomas, d. 20 Oct.
1813, Rector of Wootton Bas-
sett, Wilts. ; and his widow : 89
Ripley, a young: 43
Rivers, Lady : presumably
Martha Coxe, m. 1768 d. c.
1835, widow 1790 of Rev. Sir
Peter R., sixth baronet of
Chafford, Kent, and Preben-
dary of Winchester ; 3 s. 4 d.
alive in 1796, including Sir
Thomas VII (d. 1805), Sir
James VIII (d. 1805), and
Rev. Sir Peter IX, Rector of
Martyr Worthy, Hants, who
m. 1812:1,2, 87 (? 348)
Robert, the Leigh-Perrots’ ser-
vant : 43, 63
References are to the numbers of the letters
11. Other Persons
Robert (at Steventon): 18 (per-
haps Little wart, q.v.)
Robinson, Mary: 4
Robinson, Rev. Matthew, c.
1775-1827, Rector 1800 of
Burghfield near Reading ;
cousin of Lord Rokeby and
b.-in-law of Sir Egerton
Bridges: 27
Robinson, Dr., physician at
Lyme : 30
Roden, Lady : 44 (see note)
Rogers, Mrs. : 82
Roland, Mr. : 23
Rolle(s), Misses : 69
Roope, Mr., music-master : 17
Rosalie: 27 (91 note)
Rowe, Miss: see Woodward
Roworth, C., printer, 38 Bell-
yard, Temple-bar: 116, 117
Russell, Mrs.: probably a d.-in-
law of Rev. Dr. Russell, who
was Rector of Ashe 1720-83;
his widow d. 1785: 11, 14, 18
Russell (at Godmersham) : 52
Russia, Emperor of: 96, 97
S., Miss, governess at Wrotham:
141
Sace or Sayce, Mrs., lady’s-maid
at Godmersham : 45, 82, 84
Sacree, Susanna, 1761—1851,
nursemaid at Godmersham (a
tablet on the north buttress of
the chancel records her vir-
tues): 22, 45, 51, 66, 78, 84, 86,
97
Sackville, Viscount (last Duke of
Dorset 1815), 1768-1843 ; see
Powlett: 52
St. John, Rev. Henry Ellis,
Rector 1800 of Winchfield,
Hants, and his (?) brother: 1 9
11,27
St. Lawrence, Lady Frances, see
Phillot
St. Vincent, John Jervis, Earl of,
1735-1823: 13
Salkeld, Mrs., housekeeper at
Godmersham : 45, 87
Sally, name of various maids:
33 (Deane), 65 (Southampton),
74.1, 136, 137 (Chawton)
Salusbury, Mr. : 141
Sanford, Mr. (Mr. Henry S. is
mentioned in Opinions): 106
(see Tilson, James)
Sankey, Mr. (? apothecary) : 46
Saunders, Mr. : 44
Sawbridge, Miss : see Maxwell
Saye and Sele, Lady: Elizabeth
Turner, d. 1816, grandd. of
William Leigh of Adlestrop,
m. 1767 Thomas Twisleton,
13th baron (who d. 1788) ; see
Twisleton, and Leigh, James
Henry: 27
Schuylers, the : 39
Sclater: Mrs. Penelope Lutley
Sclater, 1750-1840, tenant of
Tangier Park, Hants (the pro-
perty of Mr. Bigg Wither of
Many down) ; mentioned in
Opinions: 78, 130
Scott, Mr. : 6
Scrane, Mrs. : 132
Scudamore, Mr., physician: 52,
58, 81, 83, 89 (and Mrs. S.),
140, 142
Seagraves, the: 87 [Richardson
Selby, James: See Index V,
Serle, of Bishop’s Stoke : 23
Seward, , steward to
Edward Austen (Life 236) and
(or, within brackets , to the pages).
II. Other Persons
tenant of Chawton Cottage ;
Mrs. S.: 6, 12, 59, 66
Seymour, Mr., Henry Austen’s
man of business ; 67, 67a, 70,
111 (see note), 118, 125, 132
(perhaps a different person)
Seymour, Miss, see Terry,
Stephen
Sharpe, Miss, of Bath : 44
Sharp(e), Ann, governess at
God mersham and elsewhere :
at Godmersham 45, 47, 49, 51,
52; with Miss Bailey 51, 55,
58, 66; projected visit to
Chawton 72, 73, 74; her
letters 82, 90 ; in Yorkshire
97, 133; J. A.’s letter to her
at Doncaster 145 ; see also 44
(157) and 50 (185 note)
Shaw, A. M., see Hammond,
Maximilian
Sherer, Rev, Joseph Godfrey,
1770—1823, Vicar of God-
mersham (Jan. 1811) and
Westwell, Kent ; mentioned
in Plan of a Novel and in
Opinions (see Plan p. 10 and
p. 20, where Shean is an error) ;
Mrs. S., and their s. Joseph
(Admiral, d. 1879): 84, 85, 86,
88, 90, 91
Shipley, Mr. : 24, 27
Sibley, Misses, probably dd. of
Joseph S. of Hall Place, West
Meon, Hants: 75
Siddons, Mrs., 1755-1831: 70,
106
Simpson, Capt. R.N. : 70
Simpson, Capt. R.N., b. of the
above: 70
Skeete, Mrs., of Basingstoke, see
French
Skipsey, Mr. (? a horse): 80
Sloane, Mr,, see Estwick
Sloper, Mr.: probably Robert
Orby S., only legitimate s. of
General Sir Robert S., K.B.
1728-1802, of West Woodhay,
Berks., who left 3 natural s.,
2 natural d. : 61
Small, Miss, dressmaker: 18
Smalbone, Jenny, and her d.
Mary (maid to the James
Austens): 54
Smith, Robert, apothecary, 62
Sloane-street : 111
Smith, Mr., Mrs. ; Colonel and
Mrs. Cantelo S. (perhaps jocu-
lar, in allusion to singing ; a
Cantelo was singing in public
in Bath about this time) : 69, 70
Smith, Captain: probably Mat-
thew S., Captain R.N. April
1808 : 64, 65
Smith, actress: 98
Smithson, Mr. : 80, 34
Somerville, Mrs. Maria, (perhaps
a sister of Rev. Mr. S., 21 Bel-
videre,) Bath : 37
Sondes, Lady: Mary, o.d. of
Richard Milles of Nackington,
m. (1) 1785 the e.s. of the first
Baron (who became the second
Baron and d. 1806); 4s. 2d.
(of whom the elder, b. 1786,
m. 1808, and the younger, b.
1802, was still a child in 1808) ;
(2) Jan. 1809 Sir Henry
Montresor, q.v. : 6, 62, 66
South, Mr., of Winchester: 17
(see North)
Southey, Herbert, 1806-16, son of
the poet (q.v. in Index V): 139
Spence, G., dentist to his
References are to the numbers of the letters
II. Other Persons
Majesty, 17 Old Bond-st. ;
or S. and Son, dentists,
1 Arlington-st. : 82, 88
Spencer, George John, second
Earl, 1758-1884, First Lord of
the Admiralty 1794r-1801: 13,
15
Spencer, Mr. and Miss: 82, 92,
93, 94
Spicer, J., see Esher in Index III
Stacey, Mary : 84
Stanhope, Admiral and Mrs., at
Bath (a Capt, S. lived at 10
Seymour-street in 1800) : 36, 44
Staples, Dame, and Hannah: 10,
15, 134
Stent, Mrs.: 20 (see note), 28,
44, 74.1
Stephens, Catherine, 1794—1882,
actress ; m. 1838 the 5th Earl
of Essex: 93, 94
Stephens, John : 10
Stephens, Mary : 15
Stockwell, Mrs.: 86
Storer, Dr., physician at Brid-
lington, and Mrs. S. : 133
Street, Mr. : 18
Street, Mr., purser, Key-street:
88
Sukey: 10
Summers, Miss, dressmaker: 27
Sussex, H. R, H. Augustus Fred-
erick, Duke of, 1773—1843, m.
1793 Lady Augusta Murray d.
of the 4th Earl of Dunmore : 34
Sweden, King of (Charles XIII,
1809-18): 85
Sweney, Mr.: 132, 133
Taylor, Edward ; his cousin
Charlotte: 6, 14, 25
Temple: probably Frank T.,
1771-1808, Lt. R.N. 1798
(Admiral 1854), y.s. of William
Johnston T. (Boswell’s corre-
spondent) and b. of Mrs,
Charles Powlett: 15 (43, note)
Terry, Thomas, 1741-1829, of
Dummer, Hants; m. Eliza-
beth (1751-1811), o.d. of
Robert Harding of Upcott,
Devon, and was survived by
5 s. 6 d. : 24, 72
Terry, Stephen, 1774-1867, e.s.
of Thomas T. ; Fellow of
King’s Coll., Camb. ; Captain
in the 62nd Regiment; m.
Maria Bridget Seymer, 1785-
1841 : 24, 43, 74
Terry, Rev. Michael, 1776-1848,
2nd s. of Thomas T. ; Rector
of Dummer 1811: 5 (? 11), 75
(? 296), and see note on p. 481,
77 (? 301)
Terry, Col. Robert, 1782-1869,
3rd s. of Thomas T. : 72
Terry, Jane, d. of Thomas T. ;
m. 1808 Harry Digweed, q.v.
Terry, Eliza, 1788—1841, 3rd d.
of Thomas T., m. 1810 Charles
Harwood, q.v.
Terry, Mary, d. of Thomas T.
(‘Miss Terry’ 282, so pre-
sumably e., or e. surviving, d.) :
72, 133 (‘Miss Terry’ 465).
This is probably the ‘Miss
Terry’ mentioned in Opinions
Terry, Anne, d. of Thomas T.
(Anne T. is mentioned in the
Powlett correpondence) : 24
Terry, Daniel, 1780 (?)-1829,
actor: 82
Thistlethwaite, Thomas, M.P.
for Hants 1806-7 : 60
(or, within brackets , to the pages).
II. Other Persons
Thomas, Edward Austen’s ser-
vant: 19
Thomas, the Austens’ servant
at Southampton and (if the
same) at Chawton : 60, 75, 77,
78
Tickars, Mrs., dressmaker: 82
Tilbury, Dame: 10
Tilson, John Henry, 1770-1836,
e.s. of John T. of Watlington
Park, Oxon.; Lt.-Col. of Ox-
fordshire Militia 1803; m.
1809 (?) Mrs. Sophia Langford :
64
Tilson, Christopher, d. 1834,
third s. of John T, ; took the
name of Chowne 1812 ; Briga-
dier-General 1804, Major-
General 1810: 43, 92 (see
note 378 on ‘Frederick’), 93,
94
Tilson, James, y.s. of John T. ;
partner in the banking firm of
Austen, Maunde and Tilson;
of Upper Berkeley-st. and later
of 4, and then of 20 Hans-
plaee ; m. Feb. 1797 San-
ford ; 5 s. 7 d. : 55, 69, 70, 71,
74, 79, 80, 82, 83, 86, 88, 89,
92, 94, 99, 111, 116, 118, 125
(Mrs. James Tilson is men-
tioned in Opinions)
Tincton, Mr.: 5
Toke, John, 1738-1819, of Godin-
ton, Kent, m. Margaretta
Roundell, who d. 1780: 6, 53,
54, 87, 89
Toke, Nicholas Roundell, 1763-
1837, e.s. of above; m. 1791
Anne Maria y.d. of Sir Bour-
chier Wrey (and s. of Mrs.
Harding) : 27, 72
1 Toke, Rev. John, 1 766-1820, 2nd
s. of J. T. above, Vicar of
Beaksbourne: 6
Torrington, Lord, see Byng
Tri ggs, gamekeeper at Chawton :
83, 96, 97, 142
Trimmer, Mr., of Alton, Hants :
61, 82, 85
Trimmer, Mr., s. of the above:
85, 138
Turner, G. : 96
Turner : perhaps William Turner
of 85 High-street, Portsmouth,
and identical with the Turner
of Mansfield Park, ch. 38 : 43,
63
Twining : 93, 94
Twisleton, Hon. and Rev. Dr.
Thomas James, 1772-1824,
y.s. of the 13th Lord Saye and
Sele, Rector 1821 of Broad-
well, Glos., with Adlestrop
(q.v.); first Archdeacon of
Colombo : 84
Twisleton, Hon. Mary Cassandra,
y.d. of the 13th Lord Saye and
Sele ; see also Leigh, James
Henry: 27. 36
Twitchen, Farmer: 30
Twyford, Rev., Curate of Great
Worldham, Hants: 75
Tylden, Richard, c. 1755-1832,
of Milsted, Kent ; his sons,
Richard Osborne T. (Caius
Coll., Camb. M.A. 1809), Vicar
of Chilham, Kent, 1809-62,
and Sir John Maxwell T. (Kt.
1812) ; his brother, Rev. Rich-
ard Cooke T., d. 1819, Rector
of Milsted, in 1799 took the
additional name of Pattenson :
84
References are to the numbers of the letters
11. Other Persons
Utterson, Alfred, s. of John U.
of Fareham, Plants ; St. John's
Coll., Oxon., matric. 1810: 91
Valentine, , R.N. : 82
Vincent, Mr. : 80 (309)
W., W.: 17
W., Mr. : 10 (24 note)
W., Miss, 74.1 (501 note)
Wabshaw (Wapshare), see Wil-
liams, Sir Thomas
Wakeford, Jos, : 24
Wales, Prince and Princess of,
see Prince Regent
Waller, Richard, of Bevis-hill,
Southampton, d, 11 June
1808: 52
Wallop, family name of Earl of
Portsmouth, q.v.
Wallop, Coulson, 1774 - 1807,
M.P. for Andover 1796-1802,
y.b. of the 3rd Earl of Ports-
mouth, q.v. : 29
Wallop, Hon. Mrs. Camilla Pow-
lett, d. 1820, widow (1781) of
Hon. and Rev. Barton W. ; of
High-street, Southampton: 43
(152 note), 56, 64
Wallop, Camilla, o.d. of the
above, m. at Southampton 26
March 1813 Rev. Henry Wake :
43, 56, 64, 74.1 (501 note)
Walsby, Dr. and Mrs. : 54
WALTER , WILLIAM II AMP-
SON, d. 1798, half-brother of
George Austen ; of Seale, near
Scvenoaks ; m. Susanna Wea-
ver; 8, 53 (203)
WALTER, PHILADELPHIA,
d. of W. H. W. : 8, 29
Walter, Rev. Henry, grandson
of W. H. W. ; Fellow of St.
John’s Coll., Camb.: 69, 70,
75
Waltham, Lady, 1743-1819,
widow (1787) of the second
Baron W. ; died at Goodne-
stone, Kent: 5
Wapshire (Wapshare), see Wil-
liams, Sir Thomas
Wapshire (Wapshare), William:
87 (354)
Warneford, of Dorking: 73
Warren, John Willing, of St.
John’s Coll., Oxon. (matric.
1786) ; a charity commissioner :
l, 2, 15 (?), 27, 62, 92
Warren, Lt.-Col., of the third
foot-guards, m. 25 Feb. 1800
, d. of Thomas Maitland
[presumably e.d., see Maitland,
Jane] and g.d. of General
Mathew (q.v.) ; their daughter
b. 15 March 1801 at Houghton,
Hants: 15(?), 27 (note)
Watkins, Charles and (?) his e.b. :
1
Webb, Thomas, pastry-cook, 153
High-street, Southampton: 56
Webb, Mrs., Miss Harriot and
sisters: 73, 74.1, 101
Wedgwood, Josiah, potter,
York-street, St. James’s: 69,
74, 83
Welby, Mrs. : Wilhelmina, 1773—
1847, o.d. of William Spry,
Governor of Barbadoes (who
m. Katherine Cholmeley, s. of
Mrs. Leigh Perrot, q.v.), m.
1792 William Earle W., 1768-
1852, who became 1815 second
baronet, of Denton Hall, Lin-
colnshire: 31, 48, 72
(or, within brackets , to the pages).
X t
II* Other Persons
Welby, William Earle, 1794-
1806, e.s. of the above : 48
Wemyss, Miss : 87
Wethered : Anne Eliza Weather-
head, d. or s. of Robert W. t
Collector of Excise, Southamp-
ton : 56 r
Whitby, Julia and Mary: 44
White, John, 1765-1855, of Sel-
borne, Hants; n. of Gilbert
W. : 73, 75 (but this might be
his e.b. Edmund, Vicar of
Newton Valence)
White, Dr. : probably Dr. John
W., ‘Gibraltar Jack’, n. of
Gilbert White (and c. of the
above), surgeon at Alton (c.
1785) and afterwards at Salis-
bury and elsewhere ; he would
be likely to be staying with
his Selborne relations: 133
White, Mrs. (of Canterbury?):
53
Whitfield: Rev. Francis Whit-
feld, —1811, Vicar of God-
mersham, Kent, 1778-1811;
and Mrs. W.: 49, 51, 53, 58
Whitworth, Charles, Earl W.,
1752—1825, Lord Lieutenant of
Ireland 1813-17: 81
Wickham, Mr.: 93
Wiepart: Weippart, M., profes-
sor of the harp, 8 Foley-street,
Portland-chapel : 70
Wiggett, Caroline, related to the
Chutes: 138
Wigram, Sir Robert, 1744-1830,
first baronet (cr. 1805), of
Belmont, Worcestershire (he
had 23 children): 87
Wigram, Henry Loftus, 1791-
1866, y.s. of Sir Robert W. : 87
Wildman of Chilham Castle, near
Godmersham: 30, 31, 83, 84,
86, 90 ; Mrs. and Miss W. 87 ;
Miss and Mr. James 91 ; Mr
J. 93, 140-2
Wilkes : presumably John Gold-
ing W., of St. John’s Coll.,
Cambridge (LL.B. 1816): 75
I William: Henry Austen’s serv-
ant: 82, 90
William, the Austens’ servant at
Chawton: 130
WILLIAMS, Admiral Sir THO-
MAS, 1762-1841; knighted
1796; captain H.M.S. Endy-
mion; commanded the sea-
fencibles of the Gosport divi-
sion 1806-7 ; m. (1) at Steven-
ton, 11 Dec. 1792, Jane, d. of
Rev. Dr. Edward Cooper, q.v.,
who d. 9 Aug. 1798 ; (2) 1800
Miss Wapshare of Salisbury,
who d. 1825; of Brooklands
near Southampton : possibly
the ‘ Tom ’ of 1 (4) and 2(5),
but see note ; 6, 14, 26, 27, 28,
48, 49, 66, 78
WILLIAMS, JANE Lady, 1st w.
of Sir Thomas W., q.v. : 2 (5,
Jane Cooper), 6 (15, Jane), 18
(55 her death, see note)
Williams, Lady, 2nd w. of Sir
Thomas W., q.v. : 27 (92 Emma
Wabshaw), 28 (97 Wapshire),
48 (172), 87
Williams, Thomas, 1 Grosvenor-
square, Knightsbridge ; his son
(?) Edmund: 82
Williams, Misses, of Southamp-
ton: 64 (250 Miss W., Miss
Grace ; 252 Miss Mary), 77
Williams, Miss and Miss Char-
References are to the numbers of the letters
II. Other Persons
lotte (associated with the Biggs
of Manydown): 78, 86, 139
Williams, Mrs. (at Steventon?):
22, 53 (perhaps two persons)
Williams, : 138 (perhaps the
same as the preceding)
Willoughby, Lady, second wife
of Sir Christopher W. first
baronet: 20
Wilmot, see Wylmot
Wilson, : 23
Winchester, Bishop of, see
North
Winstone, Miss ; the Winstones :
perhaps Capt, Hayward W.,
10 Great Bedford-street, Bath :
36, 37
Wise, Mr. : 59 (note)
Wither, see Bigg Wither
Wood, John : 15, 17
Wood, Miss : 88
Wood, Miss, of Basingstoke: 10
Woodd, Miss: 63
Woodford, Captain : 46
Woodward, Rev. James, of
Brasenose Coll., Oxon., m. at
Bath May 1801 Miss Wroe d.
of the late Major W. of Cal-
cutta: 86
Woolls, Mr. and Miss: 77, 180
Wren, Mr., dyer, Southampton:
56
Wright, Mr. and Mrs. : 5
Wylmot, , M.D., of Ashford,
Kent, and Mrs. W. : 32, 45, 49
Wynne, Mr.: 62
Yalden’s coach: 99, 130
Yates, Lady, probably widow of
Sir Joseph Y., 1722-70 ; 1 s.
1 d.: 45
Yates, Miss, perhaps d. of the
above; 86
York, H.R.H. Duchess of: Prin-
cess Frederica Charlotte of
Prussia, 1767-1820, m. 1791
Frederick Augustus Duke of
York: 35
Young, Charles Mayne, 1777-
1856, actor: 94, 105
(or, within brackets , to the pages).
INDEX II
ADDENDA
Baigent : perhaps a son of William Baigen, a Chawton farmer, who
m. c. 1802 {Hampshire Allegations for Marriage Licences) : 93
Mentification was impeded by an error in the Brabourne text
ot 63 (246), Baiton for Barton. This obstacle is now removed. Miss
/ a ^xP 0tec i an entr y i n Mrs* Lybbe-Powys’s diary for 1788
(p. 234) : Went to pay a visit to the Birch’s, St. Leonards Hill near
Windsor. Following this clue Sir Owen Morshead has referred me
to It va ™ us authorities. Near St. Leonards Hill is a modern house
called Barton Lodge, and there was a house of the same name on
the same site as early as 1823 (H. Walter’s map of Windsor Forest
and Vicinity). The ‘great house’ was at one time called Sophia
F arm (it had belonged to the Duke of Gloucester ) ; and ‘ I. Birch
Lsq is named as its former proprietor in James Hakewill’s Views
of the Neighbourhood of Windsor 1820, 19. J. A.’s Mrs. Birch was
presumably a dowager or a spinster, living in a dower-house.
Coleman: the Vicar of Godmersham told me that Elizabeth {not
Caroline) C. was baptized there in 1807.
Fonnereau : in 1810 there was a Henry F. at Kiln Green, which is verv
near Scarlets, the Leigh-Perrot place: 24.
Gayleard: James Gaylard and Son, Hatters and Habit-makers, 82
New Bond Street (P.O. Directory 1808): 51
Grants : perhaps Sir Alexander G. of Dalvey, 7th Bart., c. 1750-1825,
of Malshanger near Worting, and Lady G. (their 3 children, 1782 +,
too young ?) : 1
Hammond, Arthur Atherley, 1772-1852, s. of Arthur H. of Southamp-
ton; M.A. Oxon. ; curate of Deane 1806-15: 61
Jefferson : I owe the solution of this to Miss Elvira Slack, who found
Two Sermons by the Rev. T. Jefferson of Tunbridge, 1808, the list
of subscribers to which includes Mr. and Mrs. Edward Austen of
Godmersham and Miss Jane Austen. For another, I fear inferior,
solution see R. W. C. in Times Lit. Suppt. 20 April 1943 : 51, 53
Keith: Hester Maria Thrale, 1764-1857, m. Admiral George Keith
Elphinstone, Viscount Keith: 78.1 (504)
K., Mrs. E. : probably Elizabeth, s. of Thomas Knight, who was
buried at Godmersham in March 1809 ; see 11 (29, note) : 56
References are to the numbers of the letters
Knatchbull, Wyndham, 1750-1883 : presumably of Knatchbull, Rule,
Cunningham, and Paterson, merchants, of 52 Gracechurch St.
(P.0. Directory 1808). The Gardiners in P.P. were of Gracechurch St.
Louch: Austen, Blunt, and Louch, bankers, of Petersfield, Hants
(P.O. Directory 1815), evidently a branch of the Austen, &c., banks
in London and Alton ; like them it disappears from the Directory
in 1817. See Tilson : 07
May: brewer of Basingstoke (then and now): 13
Oxford : Edward Harley, 5th Earl of O., 1773-1848, m. 1794 Jane
Elizabeth, 1773-1824, d. of James Scott, Vicar of Itchen Stoke,
Hants. Her reputation may be judged by the name given to the
children brought up in the house — the Harleian Miscellany.
i
Serle: possibly a relation. The Memoir (ed. 1926, 51) prints a letter
of 1686 to J. A.’s great-grandmother from her mother, which
mentions ‘Cousin Robbert Serle’: 23
Steele: Steel and Meyer, Lavender-Water-wareh., Catherine St.,
Strand (P.O. Directory 1815): 31
Walsby (Wolsby in Lybbe-Powys diary s.a. 1798): Dr. Edward
Walsby, 1750-1815, Prebendary of Canterbury Cathedral 1793 : 54
Mr. Austen Leigh has since printed (in Austen Papers 1942, 135) a
letter from Eliza’s mother, which mentions ‘our Maid Rosalie’. As
the letter was written in Paris, contemplating a visit to London,
we may infer that Rosalie was French; the Hancocks, mother
and daughter, lived in France for many years.
For Further Addenda see after Index VIII.
(or, within brackets, to the pages).
III. PLACES
References are to the pages
Cross-references to names of persons are to Indexes I and II
Adlestrop, Glos., see Leigh: 66,
182, 207, 245, 248, 301, 316,
321, 334, 383
Albany, see London
Alexandria: 78, 94, 95
Alton, Hants, 47$ m. from Hyde
Park Corner on the London-
Winchester road, 1J m. from
Chawton: 188, 203, 212, 217.
246, 283, 291, 293-5, 300,
304-5, 324, 388-9, 407, 424,
455, 461, 462, 464, 473, 485
Andover, Hants, 63 £ m. from
Hyde Park Corner and 18J m.
from Basingstoke on the Lon-
don-Exeter road: 52, 59, 60,
96, 98, 106, 139
Antigua: 317
Appleshaw, 5 m. N.W. of And-
over on the Devizes road : 106
Ash(e), Hants, 6f m. W. of
Basingstoke on the London-
Exeter road, 2 m. from Steven-
ton, see Lefroy: 2, 5, 25, 29,
81, 93
Ash(e) Park, see Holder: 49, 84,
99, 114, 117
Ashdown Park, near Lamboum,
Berks., see Craven, Earl of:
106
Ashford, Kent, 53J m. from
London Bridge on the Lon-
don— Hythe road, 7 m., from
Godmersham: 44-5, 94, 163,
258, 344, 368
Astley’s, see London: 7
B : 49
Bagshot, Surry, 26 m. from
Hyde Park Corner on the
London — Basingstoke road:
308, 320
Barton Lodge, see Birch : 246
Baltic, the : 339, 375
Barbadoes : 5
Barton Court, Berks., between
Speen and Hungerford on the
Bath Road, see Dundas: 106,
261, 295
Basingstoke, Hants, 45J m. from
Hyde Park Corner on the
London— Exeter road, 8f m.
from Steventon: 22, 29, 52,
56, 79, 81, 84, 92, 98, 99, 103,
121, 127, 185, 226, 343
BATH, Som., 107J m. from
Hyde Park Corner by Maiden-
head, Reading, Hungerford
and Devizes. See also
Bristol.
General References : 26, 49,
94, 95, 118, 119, 123 (the
view), 172, 208, 232, 239, 334,
365, 366, 375, 381, 391 (J. &
Cassandra’s dislike of), 395
The Baths: Hetling Pump
63 ; Cross Bath 324, 349 ; Hot
Bath 324; Hot Pump 349
Concerts: 65, 154
The Rooms: 127
Alfred St. 153; Axford
Buildings 101; Bath St. 63,
150; Brock St. 62; Canal,
References are to the pages ,
III. Places
the, 120; Chapel, the, 100,
148, 153; Chapel row 100;
Charitable Repository 111;
Charles St. 100 ; Crescent,
the, 65, 127, 148 ; Gay St. 100,
148 (No. 25), 154, 157; Green
Park Buildings 124, 130, 130
(No. 12), 145, 147, 157 ; Green
Park St. 100; Henrietta St.
324; Kingsmead fields 100;
Laura Place 100, 109, 115,
324; New King St. 124, 132;
Paragon, see Leigh-Perrot ;
Prince’s St. 100 ; Pulteney St.
100, 304; Pump Room 64;
Queen’s Parade 62, 68 ;
Queen(’s) Square 59 (No. 13),
62, 66, 68, 70, 115; Queen
Square Chapel 100 ; Row, the,
i.e. Westgate Buildings (still
a single row, with no houses
opposite) 109 ; Riding-house,
the 148; St. James’ Square
(see Holder, William); 151;
Seymour St. 124, 127, 136;
South Parade 103; Square,
the: doubtless Queen Square;
Sydney Gardens 61, 65, 71,
115, 136, 155; Trim St. 100;
Walcot Church 64, 147 ; West-
gate Buildings 100, 109 ; White
Hart, the 324; Upper Crescent
151
The Neighbourhood : Beacon
Hill 64; Cassoon, the 129;
Charlcombe 64 ; Kingsdown
60, 123, 137 ; Lansdown 148 ;
Lyncombe 134; Sion Hill
131 ; Twerton 150 ; Weston
68, 129, 131 (see note), 155;
Widcombe: 134
Battersea: 22
Baugherst, Hants, near Silches-
ter, see Dyson: 121
Beaulieu, Hants: 205
Beckenham: 209
Bcdfont, Middlesex, near Staines
on the London-Basingstokc
road: 308
Bentigh: 189, 332 note
Bentley Green, Hants, 5| m.
N.E. of Alton on the London-
Southampton road: 376, 396
Bermuda: 242, 254
Bifrons, Kent, near Bridge on
the Canterbury-Dover road,
see Taylor: 14
Birmingham: 290
Bishopstoke, Hants, on the
Winchester — Southampton
road: 76
Bishop’s Waltham, Hants, 10 m.
from Southampton on the
Alton road: 214
Blackheath, Kent, 5 m. from
London Bridge on the Lon-
don-Dover road: 186
Blandford, Dorset, 39J m. from
Lyme Regis on the Bridport—
Dorchester - Salisbury road :
138
Bookham, Surry, near Leather-
head, off the London— Guild-
ford road, see Cooke: 66, 192,
203, 208, 220, 244-6, 248-50,
255, 286, 365, 374, 391
Brentford: 211
Bridlington, Yorks. : 466
Brighton, Sussex: ‘I dread the
idea of going to B. ’ 49 ; 334,
348
Bristol: ‘one of the first houses
in B.’ 94; ‘all over Bath — B.
included’: 102
References are to the pages .
III. Places
Broadstairs, Isle of Thanet, 20
m. from Canterbury : 190, 458,
463
Brompton, see London
Brooklands, near Southampton,
see Williams, Sir Thomas : 172
(and see 92)
Broome Park, Kent, near
Dorringstone on the Canter-
bury - Folkestone road, see
Oxenden: 168
Buckwell Pond, near Godmer-
sham: 195
Builting or Bilting, a hamlet in
Godmersham parish : 356
Cadbury, North ( not Great),
Som., see Blackall: 317
Cadiz : 33, 34
Calcutta: 15
Cambridge : 27, 205, 293, 331
Canterbury: 14, 54, 57, 115, 161,
163, 169, 170, 171, 189, 192,
195, 200, 203, 204, 205, 207,
208, 237, 270, 332, 333, 342,
348, 350, 357, 360, 364, 365,
397, 489
Cape of Good Hope: 3
Carlscroon: 314
Charlcombe : see Bath
Charmouth, Dorset, If m. from
Lyme Regis: 143
Chawton, Hants, 48 f m. from
Hyde Park Corner on the
London — Winchester — South-
ampton road, and at the junc-
tion of this road with the other
road to Southampton (by
Bishop’s Waltham); If m, from
Alton: passim from 24 Oct.
1808 ; the kitchen garden at C,
Cottage 226; Cassandra’s de-
scription 229; six bedcham-
bers 231; J. A.’s verses on
266 ; the chimneys at the
Great House 283; the Park
289; a new garden (at the
Great House) 314 (see note);
the new Coin 345, 346; the
Round Tower &c. 349
Cheesedown, part of the Steven-
ton estate: 57, 106(?), 110
Chelsea : 441
Cheltenham: 142, 189, 196, 274,
355, 371, 372; letters to
C. E, A. at, 461, 463; the
High St.: 466
Chevet (or -ot), see Pilkington
Chilham Castle, see IVildman
Chilton House, near Hunger-
ford, see Craven: 134, 308
Chippenham, Wilts., 12f m. from
Bath on the London-Calne-
Bath road: 131
Chiswell, near Southampton, see
Lance: 237, 238
Clanville Lodge, near Andover,
see Mathew: 250
Clapham : 22
Claremont Park, Esher, Surry,
on the London-Guildford
road; built (and ‘the grounds
improved’) by Brown for Lord
Clive c. 1770 ; bought by the
Commissioners of Woods and
Forests 1816; ‘Kent’s last
designs were in a higher style
. . . the north terras at Clare-
mont was much superior to the
rest of the garden’. Walpole,
Anecdotes vol. iv (1771), p. 142 :
307
Clifton, near Bristol: ‘we left
References are to the pages.
HI. Places
Bath for Clifton* (1806) 208,
317, 891
Cobham, Surry, 19| m. from
London Bridge on the London—
Guildford road: 875-7
Colyton, see Buller: 85, 150
Cork: 9, 15
Cowes, Isle of Wight; 281, 288
Cranford Bridge, Middlesex, 12}
m. from Hyde Park Corner on
the London-Bath road: 379
Crixhall ruff, a wood near
Rowling: 12
Crondale, near Godmersham,
see Filmer: 198
Croydon, Surry, on the Dartford-
Bromley- Croydon - Kingston
-Staines road: 22, 250 (‘the
other road’ is the Dorking—
Maidstone road, c f* 203), 333
Cyprus; 78, 87, 94
Danbury, Essex, see Bridges,
Brook Henry: 12
Dartford, Kent, 15 m. from
London Bridge on the Lon-
don-Dover road, 39 m. from
Staines on the Dartford—
Bromley- Croydon - Kingston
—Staines road: 20, 186, 250,
381
Dawlish, Devon, 13 m. from
Exeter on the Exeter-Teign-
mouth road: 85, 393—6, 402
Daylesford, see Hastings: 320
Deal, Kent, 19 m. from Canter-
bury by Branding and Sand-
wich: 54, 58, 164, 337
Dean(e), near Steventon; see
Austen, George and James,
and Harwood: 24, 25, 29, 34,
39, 46, 66, 74, 79, 83, 84, 87,
90, 99, 104, 107, 111, 113, 117,
302
Dean(e) Gate, Hants, near
Ashe on the Basingstoke-
Andover road ; 1 J m. from
Steventon: 2, 54
Deptford, Kent, 4} m. from
London Bridge on the Lon-
don-Dover road: 18, 186
Devizes, Wilts., 27} m. from
Andover on the Andover—
Bath road: 59, 122, 123
Doncaster, Yorks., see Sharpe:
493
Dorking, Surry, 11} m. from
Guildford on the Maidstone-
Guildford road: 203, 286
Dorsetshire : 12
Dover, Kent, 15} m. from
Canterbury: 12, 162, 164
Downs, the : 54, 58, 206, 207
Dummer House, Hants, near
Popham Lane, off the Basing-
stoke-Winchester road, see
Terry : 26, 282, 800
East Indies: 141
Eastling, near Faversham, Kent ;
Edward Cage was the rector:
357
Eastwell Park, near Ashford,
Kent, see Finch-Hatton : 50,
160, 164, 195, 331, 342, 350,
370
Edinburgh : 397 (see note), 405
Eggerton (Eggarton), Kent, near
Godmersham, see Cuthbert :
94, 191
Egham, Surry, 19} m. from
Hyde Park Corner on the Lon-
References are to the pages .
Ill * Places
don-Exeter road (from which
the road to Farnham and
Alton branches off at Golden
Farmer) : 397
Eltham School, Kent, on the
Lewisham-Dartford road : 180,
191 (cf. 161, 167)
Egypt: 78, 137
Enham Place, Knight’s Enham,
2 m. N* of Andover on the
Newbury road : 91
En . . . , see Atkinson
Esher, Surry, 16 m. from Lon-
don Bridge on the London-
Guildford road. Esher Place
( l T. Spicer, Esq.’, Paterson's
Roads 1824 p. 21); ‘At
Esher, “Where Kent and na-
ture vied for Pelham’s love”,
the prospects more than aided
the painter’s genius. — They
marked out the points where
his art was necessary or not’.
Walpole, Anecdotes vol, iv
(1771) p. 142): 306-8
Eton College, Bucks : 171
Everley, Wilts., Ilf m. from
Andover on the Andover—
Bath road: 122
Eversley, Hants (in the N.E.
corner of the county), see
Cope, Sir Richard, and Dc-
bary, Peter: 176, 181, 185
Evington, Kent, 8 m. S. of Can-
terbury, W. of the Hythe
road, see Honeywood; 333
Exeter; 104, 394
Falmouth: 5
Fareham, Hants, 18£ m. W. of
Chichester on the Margate-
Weymouth road: 202 (see
note), 283
Faringdon, Hants, 1 m. S. of
Chawton and 2} from Sel-
bourne, see Benn : 281-5, 289,
459
Farnham, Surry, 9J m. N.E. of
Alton ; two roads to London
branch at F.: 36, 376, 396
Faversham, near Ospringe, Kent,
off the London— Dover road;
post-town for Godmersham : 93
Folly Farm : 75
France: 459, ‘a scene of general
Poverty and Misery’ 465, 489
Fredville, near Knowlton, Kent,
off the Canterbury— Deal road,
see Plumtre: 358, 362
Friars, see White Friars
Fyfield : 372
Ganges : 208
Gibraltar: 34, 43, 47
Glencoe: 105
Gloucester: 105, 139
Gloucestershire, J, A.’s visit in:
123
Godington, near Great Chart,
Kent, on the Ashford— Tenter-
den road, see Toke: 283, 351
Godmersham Park, Kent., 8J m.
S.E. of Canterbury on the
Ashford road ; see Austen,
Edward, in Index I : letters to
and from Kent passim , and
especially 8, 187 the yellow
room, 189 (note) the Temple
plantation, 194 the library,
197 the hall chamber, 200 the
dressing-room, 206 the library,
205 (note) the limestone path,
330 the ‘little chintz’, the
References are to the pages .
III. Places
• *hite room, 838 improvements,
the chintz room, 885 alone in
the library, 852 hall and lib-
rary, 858 the breakfast room,
the billiard room, 808 the
drawing-room (?). For the
various rooms see 368 note ;
and see also Bentigh, Buck-
well, Eggerton, Seaton Wood,
Winnigates
Goodnestone, Kent, Of m. from
Canterbury on the Deal road,
see Bridges: 11, 12, 116, 160,
161, 162, 203, 223, 230, 279,
333 the Fair, 339 the famous
Fair, 352, 367, 434, 479, 483
Gosport, Hants, 31 m. from
Alton by Fareham, about 41
m. from Steventon by Win-
chester : 83, 88, 90, 388, 423
Gravesend (-t), Kent, 7 m. E. of
Dartford on the London-
Dover road : 21, 423
Greenwich, Kent : 17
Guil(d)ford, Surry, 29£ m. from
London Bridge on the Lon-
don-Portsmouth road, 19£ m.
from Alton ; 42 m. from
Maidstone on the Maidstone—
Beigate— Guildford road: 203,
267, 286, 306, 308, 357, 360,
375, 389
Hackwood Pack, near Basing-
stoke, Hants, see Bolton,
Lord : 49
Hadley, Middlesex, see Lefroy,
John Henry George: 413
Halifax, Nova Scotia: 152, 275
Hampstead, Middlesex: 311
Hampstead Marshall, Berks., see
Fowle : 238
Hamstall Ridware, Staffs, see
Cooper: 65, 118, 220, 252, 260,
280
Han well, Middlesex, 8£ m. from
Tyburn Turnpike on the Lon-
don-Wycombe road, see
Moore: 898, 414, 489, 441
Harden, see Harpsden
Harcfleld (probably) near Ux-
bridge: 362
Harpsden (Harden, as formerly
pronounced) near Henley-on-
Thames ; see Leigh, Rev.
Thomas, and Cooper, Rev.
Edward: 2 (see note), 66
Hartley Row, Hants, 9 m. from
Basingstoke on the London—
Basingstoke road: 23
Hatch, see Mersham Hatch
Hendon, Middlesex, 7 m. from
Holborn Bars on the Mill
Hill road: 413, 416, 423,
425
Henley, Oxon., 35 ro. from
Hyde Park Corner on the Bath
road: 312
Hertford (Hartford) Bridge,
Hants, 9J m. from Basing-
stoke on the Basingstoke—
London road : 7
Hinckley (near Nuneaton?):
212
Hog’s-back, the, between Farn-
ham and Guildford: 306, 307
Holybourn, Hants, lj m. from
Alton on the Farnham road:
397
Horsham, Sussex : 306
Hungerford, Berks. : 463
Hurstbourne (Prior), Hants, 5 m.
E. of Andover on the Basing-
stoke road; H. Park, see
References are to the pages.
III. Places
Portsmouth, Earl of: 29, 87,
90, 94 (?)
Hurstbourne Tarrant, N. of
Andover on the Newbury
road; 126 (the same as Up
H., 87, 122, 138, 148, 154; see
Ibthrop)
Hythe, Kent, 12 m, from Ash-
ford on the Folkestone road:
10,12
Ibthrop (Ibthorp ; pron . Ibtrop),
a hamlet in the parish of
Hurstbourne Tarrant, Hants,
see Lloyd: 4, 23, 35, 40, 46, 58,
81, 87, 96, 101, 106, 109, 113,
126, 138, 148-50
Ilford, Essex : 268
Ireland: 368, 395
Itchen, the: 175; Itchen Ferry,
Southampton : 228
Itchingswell, near Kingsclere,
Hants: 174; see Digweed,
Hugh
Jaffa : 78
Katherine, Lake: 105
Kempshott Park, near Basing-
stoke, see Dorchester, Lord:
48, 49
Kent, East and West, 359; the
West Kent scheme 129; our
Connexions in West K., 235
Key Street, Kent, 2 m* W. of
Sittingbourne : 357
Kingsclere, Hants, 7 m. from
Whitchurch on the Reading j
road : 43
Kingston, Surry, 10 m. from
London Bridge on the Lon-
don-Guildford road; also on
the Dartford-Bromley-Croy-
don-Kingston-Staines road :
22, 307, 318, 376, 377, 382
Kintbury, Berks,, see Fowle: 4,
23, 35, 54, 75, 81, 106, 131,
134, 175, 177, 224, 229, 233,
242, 251
Kippington, near Sevenoaks,
Kent, see Austen, Motley: 126
Kirby, Northants: 397 (note)
Larnica, Cyprus : 94
Lenham, Kent, 9£ m. from Ash-
ford on the Maidstone road
( Wrotham lies near a continua-
tion of this road), see Bridges,
Brook Edward : 339, 343, 348,
874
Lisbon : 34, 43, 120
Litchfield, Hants, 2 m. N. of
Whitchurch on the Newbury
road, or South L., West of
Steventon: 6
LONDON : Abingdon-st reet
(? Dundas) 290; Albany 162;
Astley’s 7; Bath Hotel 186;
Bedford House (Layton and
Shears) 319, 366; Belgrave
Chapel 310, 437 ; Bentinck-
street 267 ; Berkeley-street
(Upper 119), 121, 395, see
Austen, Henry ; Bond-street
418; British Gallery 267;
Brompton 145, 197, 209, see
Austen, Henry ; Carlton House
429, 442; Charing Cross 366,
368 ; Charles-street, Covent
Garden 16; Cleveland Court
118 ; Cleveland Row 425, 426 ;
Cork-street 7 ; Coventry-street
383; Cranbourn Alley 384;
Crown and Beehive 16 ; Glou-
References are to the pages
HI. Places
cester Ho. 280 (but see note) ;
Grafton House 208, 823, 825,
820, 828, 436 ; Grosvenor
Place 324 ; Hans Place, No. 23,
see Austen, Henry; Hans
Place, No. 20: 278, 327, see
Tilson ; Henrietta-street, see
Austen , Henry ; Hert ford-street
380; Hyde Park Corner, H.P.
Gate: 276, 308; Kensington
Gardens 275; Keppel-street,
see Palmer, and Austen,
Charles ; Leicester Square 327 ;
Liverpool Museum 267 ; Opera
House 107, 118; Palace, the,
191; Pall Mall 310; Russel
Square 395; St. James’s 17;
St. James’s Church 207, 311 ;
St. Paul’s, Covent Garden 363 ;
Sloane-street, see Austen,
Henry ; Somerset House 310 ;
Spring Gardens 309; Tavi-
stoek-street 398 ; Temple 17 ;
White’s: 390
Luggershall (Ludgershall), Wilts.,
7£ m. from Andover on the
Andover— Bath road: 122
Lyme Regis, Dorset, 29 J m. from
Exeter by Honiton (and there-
fore 42£ m. from Dawlish):
138-43, 216, 394
Lyncombe, near Bath : 134
Madeiras, the : 142
Maidstone, Kent: 368
Malta : 34
Manydown, Hants, 1 m. from
Worting on the Basingstoke-
Andover road ; 0 m. from
Steventon, see Bigg Wither : 3,
6, 40, 43, 56, 69, 88, 115, 116,
217, 222, 241, 242, 249, 294,
298, 300-2, 804, 477
Marcou (St. Marcouf), two small
islands off the coast of Nor-
mandy, occupied by the
British : 83
Margate, Kent, 16J m, from
Canterbury : 14, 348
Matlock, Derbyshire: 320, 320
Mecklenberg: 830
Mersham Hatch, Kent, 2J m.
from Ashford on the Ashford—
Folkestone road, see Knatch-
bull, Sir Edward : 361
Midgham House, Berks., between
Reading and Newbury (a
traveller to Midgham from
Portsmouth would go by
Winchester, Popham Lane,
and Basingstoke) ; see Boyle :
120
Milgate, Kent, 3 m. from Maid-
stone on the Ashford road, see
Cage: 77, 131, 368
Minorca : 34
Mounter’s Lane, near Chawton:
489
My stole, Kent, 4 m. from God-
mersham on the Canterbury
road, see Fagg: 340, 347
Naekington, Kent, 2 m. S. of
Canterbury, off the Dover
road, see Milles: 13, 166, 202,
205, 331, 332
Neatham, Hants, part of the
Chawton estate: 210, 214, 301
Netherton, see Lance: 175
Netley: perhaps N. Lodge on
Southampton Water (* J. Smith
Esq.’ Paterson's Roads 1824
References are to the pages .
III. Places
p. 808), see Southampton:
197
Netley Abbey, see Southampton
Newbury, Berks., 18 m. N. of
Whitchurch, 20 m, from
Steventon: 119, 154, 204-5
North Cadbury, see Cadbury
Northam Bridge, Hants, 1 m.
from Southampton on the
Bishop’s Waltham road: 228
Northamptonshire : 298, 504
Norton Court, Kent, near Os-
pringe on the London— Dover
road, see Lushington: 842
Norwich: 406
Nova Scotia: 152
Oakley, Hants, S. of the Basing-
stoke— Andover road, between
Worting and Ashe, near Many-
down, see Bramston: 74, 75,
294
Ospringe, Kent, 9£ m. from
Canterbury on the London-
Canterbury road; 9 m. from
Godmersham byChilham: 20,
54, 162, 163, 357
Overton, Hants, 7f m. from
Basingstoke on the Basing-
stoke-Andover road, 3£ m.
from Steventon (for which it
was the post-town) : 32, 72, 283
Oxford: 64, 245, 277, 801, 362,
374, 437-8, 458
\
Pains Hill Park, near Cobham,
Surry, on the London-Guild-
ford road. (‘Mr. Charles
Hamilton, at Pain’s-hill, in
my opinion has given a perfect
example [of the alpine scene]
in the utmost boundary of his
garden. All is great and
foreign and rude*. Walpole,
Anecdotes , vol, iv (1771) p.
145) : 307
Paris: 465
Penzance: 158
Petersfield, Hants, Ilf m, from
Chawton on the Alton-Peters-
field road : 391
Pett Place, near Charing, Kent,
on the Canterbury-Brighton
road (‘George Sayer, Esq.’
Paterson's Roads 1813): 351
Popham Lane, Hants, 5 m. from
Basingstoke oft the Basing-
stoke- Winches ter road, 2 m.
from Steventon, see Midgham ;
120
Portsmouth, Hants, 4£ m. S. of
Cosham, which is 17 m. from
Southampton by Fareham : 26,
39, 89, 120, 134, 152, 175, 233,
235, 240, 253, 258, 262, 290,
297, 301, 361, 389
Provendar, Kent, see Knatch-
bull, Edward: 200
Ramsgate, Kent: 166, 839, 343,
348, 351
Reading, Berks., 39 m. from
Hyde Park Corner on the
Bath road, 14J m. from
Basingstoke: 52, 313
Rhodes: 120
Ripley, Surry, 23£ m. from Lon-
don Bridge on the London-
Guildford road: 306, 360
Rochester, Kent, 29 m. from
London Bridge on the London-
Dover road : 20
Rostock: 336
References are to the pages .
III. Places
Rowling, Kent, 1 m. E. of Good-
nestone, see Austen, Edward:
7, 54, 163, 164, 168
Roxburghshire: 838
Rugby, Warwickshire : 260
Rugcn: 813
Rumsey (Romsey), Hants, 10 J
m. S.W. of Winchester: 888
St. Alban’s Court, nearWingham,
on the Canterbury-Sandwich
road, see Hammond: 168
St. Bo(niface), a house in the Isle
of Wight, the scat, 1810, of
‘Thos. Bowdler Esq.’ ( Carey's
New Itinerary) 03
St. Helen’s (Bay), Isle of Wight:
St. Maries , see Southampton
Salisbury, Wilts.: 97, 227
Sandling, Kent, 10 m. from Ash-
ford on the Folkestone road,
see Deedcs: 76, 167, 188, 203,
206, 331, 332, 360, 436, 461
Scarlets (-tts), Berks., near Hare
Hatch, 6 m. from Maidenhead
on the Reading road, see Leigh-
Perrot : 107, 141, 296, 304, 428,
Scotland: 315 [454,488
Seale, near Sevenoaks, on the
Maidsto ne-Guildfo rd r oad :
see Walter : 203
Seaton Wood, on the Godmer-
sham estate : 353
Selbo(u)rne, Hants, 3| m. S. of
Chawton: 285, 286, 289, 465
Shalden, Hants, part of the
Chawton estate ; 210, 345
Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey,
Kent: 58, 354
Sherborne St. John, Hants, near
Basingstoke: 24
Shrewsbury : 95
Sidmouth, Devon : 107
Sittingbourne, Kent, 15 J m.
from Canterbury on the Lon-
don-Canterbury road; 16 m.
from Godmersham: 20, 21,
187, 353-4', 359
Southend: 316
Southampton: passim in letters
of 1807-9; 92; preferred to
Canterbury 171 ; the Castle
178 (see note); St. Mary’s
(the district surrounding the
parish church) 212 (see Harri-
son) ; fire in the High Street
216; Netley Abbey (a favour-
ite excursion ‘most frequently
made by water . . . but those
who prefer crossing the ferry
and walking thither, will find
the round extremely pleasant,
and the distance about three
miles’) 228 ; the Theatre 233 ;
Bellevue 233; the Polygon
235 ; date of departure 246
Spain: 258
Speen Hill, Berks., near New-
bury on the Bath road, see
Craven, Mrs., and Hulbert:
107, 149, 231
Spithead, 153
Staines, Middlesex, 1CJ m. from
Hyde Park Corner on the
London-Basingstoke road: 7,
22, 24
Star Cross, Devon, 3f m. from
Dawlish on the Exeter-Teign-
mouth road : 394
Start, the, Devon, 120
Steventon, Hants, l£ m. off the
Basingstoke-Andover road, S.
of Ash, and 2 m. N.W. of
Popham Lane on the Basing-
References are to the pages .
III. Places
stoke-Winchester road, see
Austen, George and James:
passim ; the Elm walk 76, 86 ;
the little parlour 132 ; the Book
Society 294
Stirling (Sterling) Scotland (the
reference is to an imaginary
visit, see Love and Freindship ,
1922, p. 38): 397
Stoneleigh Abbey, Warwick-
shire, near Kenilworth, see
Leigh, J. H.: 174, 189, 232
Streatham, Surry, 5J m. from
Westminster Bridge on the
London-Croydon road ; see
Hill: 271, 367, 374, 383, 392,
474-7
Sweden: 314, 336
Switzerland: 495
Tangier, Hants, see Sclater : 459
Tenby, Pembrokeshire: 190
Tewkesbury, Glos. : 96
Tollard Royal, Wilts ., see Rice,
Henry : 343, 402
Tunbridge: 182
Twerton, near Bath: 150
Uxbridge, Middlesex, 15 m. from
Tyburn Turnpike on the Lon-
don-Wycombe-Oxford road :
278
Vienna: 95
Wales: 103, 151
Waltham, see Bishop’s Wal-
tham
Wantage Down, Berks.: 106
Weston, near Bath: 68, 129, 181
(see note), 155
Westwell, Kent, W. of Eastwell,
q.v. : 339
Weyhill, Hants, 3£ m. W. of
Andover on the Devizes road :
106, 343
Weymouth, 8 J m. S. of Dorches-
ter, which is on the Bridport—
Salisbury road: 138, 280
Wheatfield, Oxon., near Stoken-
church on the Uxbridge-
Oxford road : 278
Whit(e)church, Hants, 6f m. E.
of Andover on the Basingstoke
road: 98
White Friars, Canterbury, see
Knight, Mrs.: 193, 194, 200,
270, 339
Widcombe, near Bath : 134
Wight, Isle of (‘the Island’): 92,
199, 200, 202, 207
Winchester (Winton), Hants,
6£ m. from Chawton, 14 m.
from Steventon : 25, 55, 75, 92,
173, 180, 188, 200,214,219,226,
238, 251 , 458, 467, 476, 494, 498
Windsor, Berks., near Slough, off
the London-Maidenhead-IIen-
ley road: 41, 312
Winnigates, or Wintergates, a
wood on the Godmersham
estate : 353
Wintney : Hartley Wintney,
about 9 m. E. of Basingstoke,
off the Basingstoke— Staines
road: 56
Wood Barn, near Chawton : 285
Wootton St. Lawrence, Hants:
283
Woolwich, Kent: 72, 397
Worldham, Great (or East), E. of
Chawton, Hants : 293
Worthing, Sussex, 12 m. W. of
References are to the pages.
11 1. Places
Brighton, and so 82 m. from
Canterbury by Charing and
Highgate; 161, 167, 169
Worting, Hants, 2J m. from
Basingstoke on the Andover
road, see Clarke : 43, 81
Wrotham, Kent, 10J m. W. of
Maidstone ; on the Maidstone—
London road (by Eltham), and
just off the Maidstone— Guild-
ford road ; see Moore : 203, 206,
231, 350, 358, 361, 364, 374
Wrotham Gate ; 203
Wyards, a farmhouse near Alton,
see Lefroy, Benjamin : 423, 438,
462, 475, 484, 485
Wye, Kent, 9$ nu S, of Canter-
bury, 1 m. from Godmersham :
227
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight ; 8, 212,
215, 226
York : 104, 405
References are to the pages •
uu
IV. GENERAL TOPICS
References are to pages
SUMMARY
Ralls
Carriages
Charities
Dress
Duelling
Food and Drink (see also Meals)
French
Games and Pastimes
Hair and Hairdressing
Handshaking
Handwriting (see also Letters)
Houses
Jewelry and Plate
Letters (see also Handwriting)
Literature (see also Indexes V
and VI)
Meals (see also Food)
Music
Names
Nature, Gardens, Weather
Newspapers
OPINIONS
Beauty
Children
Clergy
Death
Education
Explanations
Family tie9
Likenesses
Liking
Liveliness
Luxury
Marriage
Match-making
Money
Mothering
Old Age
Public Affairs (see also News-
papers)
Religion
Virtues and Vices
Youth
Painting
Prices
Races
Remedies
Schools
Shooting
Spelling
Teeth and Dentists
Tips
Transport
Travel (se$ also Carriages)
Visits
Work
IV. General Topics
nails* the early letters passim ; 2 ‘sitting down’, 0 ‘draw for part-
ners* 11 ‘the Boulangeries’ (cf. P.P. ch. 8), 29 Basingsto e
assemblies, 44, 103 Ashford balls, 48 ‘a
49 Hackwood, 51 ‘not very much in request , 5o, 90, 91 I called
the last’ 92, 98 Canterbury, 93 Faversham, 104 and 108 Chilham
Castle (cf. 370?), 119 Newbury Assembly, 123 and 127 Upper
Rooms, Bath, Ml Lyme, 104 Deal, 225, 253, 257 Southampton,
249 Manydown, 844 Ashford, 481 quadrilles and cotillions.
Carriages (see also Travel): 11 coach, 111 ‘Coach box Basket &
^Dickey’ 121 riding on the Bar, a Sunday chaise, 133 the Debar* ' s
Sachf 186 and 137 Mr. Evelyn’s Phaeton & four, 161, 189 the
Cndmersham chair, 173 James Austen’s chair, 190 the Godmer
riiam carriage, 195 John Bridges’ gig, 280 Mrs. Welby’s barouche.
Ss Henry A.’s gig, 293 Mr. Clement’s tax-cart, 806 Henry A. s
curricle 313 and 398 his barouche, 318 and 397 hackney coach,
319 barouche box, ‘ four within ’ too many for comfort, 331 painting,
charities to the po~em«ri.
203 ‘ If she wants sugar, I sh d like to supply her with ,
old shift & ... a set of our Linen’
DRESS &c. (The student is warned that the compiler of this
D S ntai list has no pretension , to
81 ; beaver bonnet 111 ; beds (? bed-gowns) 172 ; boa 189 , bomna
zeen (-sin -zin) 222, 291, 301, 362; bonnet 37, 125, 133 , 181, 21 ,
222, 250,’ 269 ; bugle 269, 277 ; button-holes 382 ; calico l o ,
cambric 98 116 125 ; cap 35, 37, 40, 44, 49, 65, 113, 154, 322, 323,
„„ r 330 335 380 384 ; cawl 37 ; China, see crape ; christening robe,
; cl<fak 63,^77, 125, 133; cloud 116; coarse spot 44; comb
77 81 ; coquelicot 37 ; crape 154, 222, (China) , »
cravat 249 ; cruels 268 ; dimity 310 ; fan 51 ; _ , ’ g g 10 ’ (
862, 441 ; flowers and fruit 67 ; 98 121 128, 132,
24 306: core 279; gown 9, 3 j, 40, 49, 77, jy, »
172 ; handkerchief : 125, (shirt m 13L
(podret) 415, (muslin) 426, ^ ’m Umb,:
269 ; Irish 56, 327 ; kersejmmre 2M , aee 25, 63^OT 3 ,
wool 426; linon 185; list 257; mamaione
mantua 49; ™ ^mghtcap 162, 333, 358; parasol
381 ; muslin 251 268 276 27» , ng^ ^ 366 399) 416) 46 1 ;
131 ; pelisse 173, 215, 2 » - ’ .j 321 324 , 328 ; robe 40 ;
perl edge 384; persian 3, 339; popim on, o^,
References are to the pages.
IV. General Topics
sarsenet 308, 310, 381 ; shawl 155, 295 ; shift 198 ; shoes 51, 63, 77,
242, 257, 402; slate 327; sleeves 386; spencer 133, 204; sprig 67;
statues 92 ; stays 322, 357 ; stockings 3, 77, 269, 327, 436 ; strip
(white) 125 ; tippet 383 ; veils 69, 328, 377, 380 ; velvet 219 ; Vine
leaves and paste 386; white in the morning 99, cf. 132 and note
Duelling 83
Food and Drink (see also Meals): cold souse 6, 58; Edward A. goes
out ‘to taste a cheese himself’ 61 ; black butter 241 note ; syllabub
285; honey 330; ‘very bad Baker’s bread’ 367; ‘arra-root’ 436;
loaf sugar 345; breaking sugar 437. Wine: orange 209, 477;
currant 290; white 330; liqueurs 10; mead 305, 363, 382, 441,
466 ; small beer 18 ; spruce beer 215 ; tea 14, 286
French words and phrases: 34, 72, 78, 89, 99, 110, 121, 130, 149, 180,
189, 270, 311, 345, 346, 362, 366, 462, 78.1
GAMES and other pastimes: backgammon 331; battledore and
shuttlecock 161; bilbocatch 225; billiards 351, 362; brag 247,
J. A.’s verses on b. and speculation 252 ; casino 93 ; charades 298 ;
commerce 93, 139, 211, 215; conundrums 225; cribbage 126, 161,
302 ; nines 488 ; quadrille 215 ; riddles 225 ; speculation 229, 244,
247, J. A.’s verses 252 ; spillikins, -ens, 179, 211, 225 ; transparencies
75 ; turning 8, 10 ; vingt-un 117, 472 ; whist 93
*
Hair and Hairdressing: 54 powder, 57 ‘a crop’, 113 cut too short,
162 Mr. Hall, ‘5s. for every time’, 192 Anna A.’s cut off, 308
Charlotte Craven’s does ‘credit to any education’, 323 Mr. Hall
‘curled me out at a great rate’, 327 ‘my hair was dressing’
Handshaking: 131, 158
Handwriting (see also Letters): 25 ‘sprawly’, 115, 134(?), 196, 197
bad pens (cf. 319, 366), 228, 336, 367 beauty of Cassandra’s, 500
4 1 must learn to make a better K ’
Houses : Dressing room 34, 35, 55, 200, 208, 260
Jewelry and Plate: ‘gold chains & Topaze crosses’ 137 ; the family
silver 243 ; Cassandra’s locket 310 ; broches 153, 204, 219
LETTERS (These references are for the most part noteworthy only
as they illustrate the normal epistolary practice of the day).
Consequences of the expense of postage and of limitation of an
unfranked letter to a single sheet : a long sheet 22 ; writing as closely
as possible 44 ; materials to fill a sheet 95 ; ‘ very clever to write
References are to the pages .
376 two-
223 ‘by
IV. General Topics
such long Letters’ (i.e. so closely-written) 100, cf. 118, 847;
‘ashamed of my wide lines’ 228; ‘not filling my sheet 68, cf. 05;
* mv paper will be my own’ 82, ‘will hardly hold it all 235, will
put my lines very close together’ 304, ‘I have not time or paper
for half that I want to say’ 374; foolscap 104; crossing 205
‘obliged to write down the whole of this page ; gratitude to
Cassandra for ‘ Such a long Letter l Two & forty lines in
Page’ 844; counting the lines 400
Envelope (the word is not in the Letters, but see P.andP.ch. 35) .
205 ‘something in a cover’ no doubt implies that the letter w
bv hand and cost the recipient nothing
Franking : 78, 82, 104, 277, 292, 347
Seal and Wafer: 51, 70, 347
Direction : 120, 141 , 489
Cost: 47 ‘letter expences’, 111 overcharge, 336, 441,
VC Loccd°arrangemenis : 154 Newbury, 489 Canterbury,
“S'fc 05 ‘open'd at Vienna', 102 numbed outside
(to check losses— a practice repeated in the War of >
Literary aspects : 102 ‘ the true art of letter- writing , 181
» TUn tori'll < 5 ’ cf 244-5, 186 ‘important nothings
Various: 69, 70, 73 letters for children ; 186 forced to be abu-
sive for want of subject ; 325 Sunday post ; 492 mourning
Family letters for general consumption : 226 ‘ we a saw
she wrote’ ; 306 ‘I hope somebody caresfor these minu is jjj®
‘I read him the cheif of your Letter’ ; 343 ‘we
463 a letter from Charles to Cassandra opened by J. A. and
fArw'irflpd See on ttic other hcind 140 _ - xtt
LITERATURE (see also Index V, Literary AUiisi°ns n ex .
Selusten's Novels, and the letters to Anna, Nos. 95, 98, 100,
101, 107, passim) ,. ( , a „Ud
Anmynay: ^ “ n ° i ault - regrets at
Beast, I cannot help it. It is not ny
disclosure 320, 4 1 am trying to harden mys . _ D’arblay’
a trifle it is . . 340 ; * perhaps I may marry young
^Classical Allusions: ‘Homer and Virgil, Ovid and Propria que
Maribus’ 256 ; ‘her sister in Lucina 329 , , (1798> of
Composition: ‘an artist canmrtdo; \ my Ideas flow
another art-form) 30; at work (Jan. 180«) couiu y
References are to the pages*
IV. General Topics
as fast as the rain in the Store closet it would be charming’ 256;
‘ wish other people of my acquaintance could compose as rapidly ’
4?20 ; Impossible, with a head full of Joints of Mutton & doses of
rhubarb 466 ; the little bit (two Inches wide) of Ivory . . ,’
468—9
Fancy and Imagination : 345
Libraries : Mrs. Martin’s subscription 1. (at Basingstoke ?) opened
1799, 38 ; the ‘particularly pitiful’ 1. at Dawlish 393
Names and Titles : I will compliment her by naming a Heroine
after her’ 345; ‘ Enthusiasm was something so very superior that
every common title must appear to disadvantage ’ 393
Novels : the A. family ‘great Novel-readers & not ashamed of
being so ’ 38 ; Cassandra’s dislike of desultory n. 395 ; ‘ novel slang ’
404
Octavos and Quartos : 304 ‘I detest a quarto’
Parody, of Mrs. Piozzi 235, and perhaps 136 line 3
Puns: 133, 335
Beading in general : * I come to be talked to, not to read or hear
reading, I can do that at home’ 89 ; ‘very little variety of Books or
Gowns’ 96
Reading Aloud : ‘My father reads Cowper to us in the evening’
39; ‘to read or hear reading’ 89; ‘the “Female Quixotte” . . .
now makes our evening amusement’ 173; ‘James reads [ Marmion ]
aloud in the Evens’ 197; ‘I read [Espriella's Letters] aloud by
candlelight’ 212; ‘Our second evening’s reading to Miss Benn’
299
Reading Clubs: the Chawton Book Society, its rival in the
Steventon district, and its imitator elsewhere 294, 304
Subject: ‘my preference for Men & Women, always inclines me
to attend more to the company than the sight’ 267 ; excuses herself
to Mr. Clarke, ‘the comic part of the character I might be equal
to, but not the good, the enthusiastic, the literary’ ; ignorance of
science, of philosophy, of languages and literature, &c. 443, and
see 452—3 ; Pictures of Perfection make me sick and wicked 486 ;
‘the dirty Shaving Rag was exquisite! — Such a circumstance ought
to be in print’ 412 ; fears of having ‘overwritten’ herself 449, 453 ;
digressions might have improved Pride and Prejudice ; Cassandra’s
‘starched notions’ on this 300
Style: solicitude about 256, use of third person in dialogue 387,
Charles A.’s (naively revealing) 438
Verses: on Brag and Spec. 252; ‘I am in a Dilemma’ 278; on
the Weald of Kent Canal Bill 279 ; lines on Miss W. 501
References are to the pages.
XV* GcrctoX Topics
’before b. 28; .hopping before b. 821; at
in * m 188. 206, cf. 826 ; coffee at 68
Luncheon : 862; Moonshine : 105, 228; The Tray : 867
iZn* 39 (1708, at 8.30) ; 164-5 (1805, at 5, but delayed till 6) ;
, ‘th.lTe n,„y waik afterword.); 235 (1808, ‘we never
SSlS- 810 (l^ndon seek after 5); 859 (Godmcrsham, at
osol ' sos (London, at 4.30, ‘that our Visitors may go to the
rl Teo: at 6.80 (after dinner at 8.80) 89 .loant-
M f ( P S, ‘the tray 1 at 10 or 10.30); 285 (1811, hot supper) ,
„ 800 ‘ ^ V?"iSe every day', 48 ‘writing music', 05 Concert in
fdJv Garfeaslll Inging Duetts, 120 ‘my Pianoforte' sold
ST&S'SP- -« pLoforte' (1808, to <^t 30
l5 f C . 9 l* Mrs Henrv A.’s party , ‘Lessons on the Harp ,
guineas), mother's playing, 870 Concert, 385 no pleasure
£ sSging, 3 s, e 4^r»ruC«
dcSrioe ' tlt a ^rson not musical is fit for every sort of Wicked-
ness’, 440 music masters
Names ; Caroline 172 183 ; ch ^Tto be^ M “'0?“ mJS”
a Village With suck a = ought* bej 14^ Dm ^y^ ^
D«* 283 (see note) , Lmma » _ ,v chould have partners
Mis, Lances (one of them to » “a pwotLw unequ^Uy the
gifts of Fortune are bestowed. I nob^ name’ 400;
Thomas much more agreeable , Lesley t hig
Newton Worn 'to «% » p^chaeT 1 as much as I can
eyes to have thoug ^ Better Christian name ,
it.
^“yoSg^en Ted without prefix 2 (Warmn), 5 (Boiler), 93
NATURE, GARDENS, ™A™ER: ‘a
a beautiful walk 135 ; beauty of Kent 189, or a y .
References are to the pages .
IV. General Topics
nn°w^ Urg f hShire ^ 388 5 , envies the wives of sailors and soldiers (the
power of spending their summers where they choose) 103 • the
Sea 103, 118, 153; Wales 103 7 1 » the
19 ^ h , e f l i UT f! qUe: ‘PJ os P ective view’ 62; view of Bath criticized
ZVl f - ^i han ser Abbey); question if certain ladies had ‘any
right by Taste or Feeling to go their late Tour 5 211 *
Gardens: ‘improvements’ at Steventon 76; at Chawton (‘I
London^ 0 Wlth ° Ut a Syrin 2 a ’) 178 > 182 » 281, 287; trees in
Weaker: what the 5‘h & 6th of October should always be’
f 18; , a rnnee of days’ (in November), ‘did not know how to
turn back 233; ‘like an old Febv come back again’ 300-
nice unwholesome, Unseasonable, relaxing, close, muggy weather’
ooTCnn' 9 a ^ 96 ‘ des P erate walkers’, 135, 153, 168, 233,
^oy, m oUOj 464
Newspapers: 15 ‘the Papers say’, 61 the Bath paper, 87 ‘Mr.
Holders paper’, the Sun, 113, 143 ‘the Pinckards news-
paper (Lyme), 152 ‘in the papers’ (Bath), 197 ‘yesterday’s
Courier , 227 ‘the Salisbury paper’ (Southampton), 248 ‘your
newspaper (to Cassandra at Godmersham), 258 ‘the Portsmouth
paper’ (Southampton), 277 ‘this morning’s paper’ (London), 2^9
as I have just had the pleasure of reading’, 280 ‘the papers
say’ (Chawton), 297 ‘our paper’ (Chawton)
OPINIONS on various topics
Beauty: ‘whose eyes are as handsome as ever’ 2 ; ‘those beauti-
ful dark eyes’ 87; ‘he must write a great deal better than those
eyes indicate . . . 117; ‘pleased with his black eyes’ 236; ‘a
pleasing looking young woman’ (i.e. J. A.) 278 ; ‘those large dark
eyes’ 345 ; ‘Lady B. found me handsomer than she expected’ 371 •
‘ her fine dark eyes ’ 479 ’
Children: the change from beauty and ‘interesting manners’ to
‘an ungovernable, ungracious fellow’ 24-5 ; ‘what is become of all
the Shyness in the World?’ 179; praise of ‘the best Children in
the present day’ (1807) ‘so unlike anything that I was myself at
her age’ 179
Clergy : wisdom of residence 55 ; residence the only means of
ejecting a bad curate 339 ; eagerness in delivery preferred to want
of animation, in preaching 339
Death: not even Death itself can fix the friendship of the
World’ 114
References are to the pages.
IV. General Topics
Education : humorously defined (music, drawing and astronomy)
Explanations : * Heaven forbid that I should ever offer . . •
encouragement to Explanations ’ 64
Family Ties', ‘could not have supposed that a neice would ever
have been so much to me’ 217; ‘I like first Cousins to be first
Cousins’ 415; ‘neices seldom chosen but in compliment to some
Aunt or other’ 421 ; ‘now that you are become an Aunt, you are
a person of some consequence ... I have always maintained the
importance of Aunts’ 428 ; ‘blessed in the tenderness of such a
Family, & before I had survived either them or their affection’ 495
Likenesses'. 168; ‘I wish she were not so very Palmery’ 354
Liking: ‘trouble of liking’ people 43; merit in not liking 51;
‘cannot anyhow continue to find people agrcablc’ 129; seems
to like people rather too easily ’142
Liveliness defined: ‘the proper selection of adverbs, & due
scraps of Italian & French’ 135
Luxury : * to sit in idleness over a good fire in a well-proportioned
room’ 84; ‘pleasures of friendship . . . make good amends for
Orange Wine ’ 209 ; ‘ these two Boys who are out with the Fox-
hounds will come home & disgust me again by some habit of
Luxury or some proof of sporting Mania’ 344
Marriage : ‘a great Improver’ 231 ; every body has a nght to
marrv once in their lives for love’ 240 ; ‘anything to be preferred
or endured rather than marrying without affection’ 410 ; J parade
of happiness’ in young married women 411 ; ‘nothing can be com-
pared to the misery of being bound without love 418 ; poverty of
s : n n]e women an argument for marriage 483 .
Match-making: 58; ‘so natural that I have no ingenui y
planning it’ 210 ; ‘a Southampton Match ..•!••• llke
I had made it before’ 231 . live in a
Money: ‘so horridly poor & economical 41; toy hve m
handsome style and are rich, and she seemed to i
175; legacies are very wholesome diet’ 188; ‘the rich a ' e ® ^ ^
respectable’ 195 ; ‘As to Money, that will come you may be sure
because they cannot do without it’ 231 ; I ha * °g| . , u
delight of saving you the postage, but money is dirt 36! , yo
are much above caring about money 411 ; Peeler 4
Mothering: ‘poor Woman! how can she be hones ?jJ , . re f“ (0 ®
again?’ 210; ‘the simple regimen of separaterooms . ’ P.
Animal, she will be worn out before she is th>rty 48 , by
beginning the business of Mothering quite so early in 1 , y
Re jet cnees are to the pages
I F, General Topics
will be young . , , when . . . is growing old by confinements &
nursing 1 483; 488
Old Age: ‘ perhaps in time we may come to be M rs Stents our-
selves, unequal to anything & unwelcome to everybody’ (1805)
154; ‘at her age, perhaps, one may be as friendless oneself, and in
similar circumstances quite as captious’ (1808) 243 ; ‘if I live to be
an old Woman, I must expect to wish I had died now’ (1817)495
Public Affairs : (see also Newspapers); ‘critical state’ of ‘our
poor army’ (Jan. 1809) 246; ‘my most political correspondents’
say nothing of the (rumoured, Jan. 1809) Regency 246; death of
Sir John Moore ; ‘thank Heaven! we have had no one to care for
particularly among the Troops’ 261—2; ‘This is greivous news
from Spain’ (Jan, 1809) 258 ; ‘How horrible it is to have so many
people killed! — And what a blessing that one cares for none of
them! ’ (May 1811) 286 ; ‘What weather! & what news!— We have
enough to do to admire them both’ (Nov, 1813) 372; letters
from abroad (1817) ‘would not be satisfactory to me, I confess,
unless they breathed a strong spirit of regret for not being in
England’ 477, cf. 212, Espriella's Letters ‘horribly anti-english ’ ;
state of France (1816) 465
Religion : ‘ her solid principles, her true devotion ’ 220 ; ‘letters
of cruel comfort’ 222; I do not like the Evangelicals ’ (1809) 256;
‘I am by no means convinced that we ought not all to be
Evangelicals (1814) 410, cf. 420; ‘I wish Sir John [Moore] had
united something of the Christian with the Hero in his death ’
261 ; ‘We do not much like Mr. Cooper’s new Sermons; they are
fuller of Regeneration & Conversion than ever — with the addition
of his zeal in the cause of the Bible Society’ (1816) 467;
‘Religious Principle’ 486; humility 495; ‘If ever you are ill, may
you . . . possess . , . the greatest blessing of all, in the conscious-
ness of not being unworthy of their [i.e. friends’] Love, I could
not feel this’ (1817) 497 ; the Sacrament 197, 344
Virtues and Vices: selfishness and unselfishness: ‘as you are
happy, all this is selfishness, of which here is enough for one
page’ 183; ‘for one’s own dear self, one ascertains & remembers
every thing ’ 262 ; ‘ While she gives happiness to those about her,
she is pretty sure of her own share ’ 256
ill-nature : ‘ This is an ill-natured sentiment to send all over the
Baltic 1’ 339
narrow-mindedness: difficulty of persuading ‘a perverse and
narrow-minded woman to oblige those whom she does not love’
118, cf. 494
References are to the pages .
IV. General Topics
vanity: ‘The pleasures of Vanity are more within your compre-
hension’ 411
wisdom: better than Wit 410
Youth- ‘she goes on now as young ladies of seventeen ought to
do admired and admiring’ (1708) 45; ‘like other young ladies
she is considerably genteeler than her parents’ 142 ; one of the
sweet taxes of Youth to chuse in a hurry & make bad bargains
830
n ; n +tn 0 * muse 128 : ‘employed about my Lady’s face’ 178
prices (see also Dress, Letters) : Apples 25s. a sack 334, Books 111
Pnees (see 2s> 6d 352> Butter 12 d. 124, Cheese 9£d.
124 Cows 126, Furniture 126, Hops 82, Meat 8d. 124, 836, 352,
Salmon 2s. 9d. 124, Sugar 306, an Instrument 24 guineas 416
Hopes- 7 204, 205, 335, 343, 397, 408, 467
■Remedies' Bleeding 375 (Dr. Parry of Bath), 426; Calomel 335,
R running 144 335; Electricity 63; Hartshorn 170; Huxham
ml P hA tincture of bark) 190 ; Laudanum 26 ; Leec ^ es 325 ’ 3 ®°/
Magnesia 133; Mercury 488; Oil ° f sweet a ^ nd f ’ ste d e ’s
159- Plaister, strengthening, 441; Rhubarb 466, Steeles
Lavender Water 108 ; Waters 66, 133, 349, 463
Sehnnls- ‘I could die of laughter . ., as they used to say at school’
S (1796) 8 ; ‘the ignorant class of school mistresses’ 151 ; a fashion-
able London school 309
-adding, vowel’ 250; (note J. A/, own spelling
of e.g. Plumtre)
Teeth and Dentists: 322, 327, 328 shillings for Sackree’
Tips: ‘half a guinea or only five shillings 12, 8
163 _W f ^ . OQ ‘our trunk nearly slipped off’ ; 60 a trunk
'A" ££ by waggon^; 102 cos. of moving
n^toSfute prohibitive; 115 ‘an opportumty of sendmg ,
311 trunk to be sent by coach ^ ta a Stage Coach, but
Travel (see also damages) . I J h coaches were full’ ;
Frank will not let me (1796) of returning by
the night coach to Deal, tne P . OQ t Mail for
myself deters me (1799), carriage a stage or
London’ ; 121 ‘Henry would send you in his carriage s
References are to the pages.
IV. General Topics
two, where you might be met’ ; 1 92 a visit impracticable from ‘the
nature of the road ’ (because no coach, cf. 463) ; 203 prohibitive
cost of travelling; 225 ‘travelled on the outside’; 246 ‘these
plans depend of course upon the weather, but I hope there will
be no settled cold to delay us ; 318 ‘ delayed for horses ’ in travelling
post ; 337 journey from Chawton to Godmersham : five in and on the
barouche, eight in two post chaises, two in the chair, two on horse-
back and the rest by coach ; 374 an early start ‘ as Edward takes
his own Horses all the way ’ ; 382 Henry A. desires Cassandra ‘ to
come post at his expense, & added something of the Carriage
meeting you at Kingston ; 396—7 J. A. travels from Chawton to
Sloane St. by coach, ‘Yalden’, 4 in the kitchen part, 15 on top,
(changing coaches at Farnham) and so to Hans Place by hackney
coach; 397 ‘my own [imaginary] Coach between Edinburgh
& Sterling ; 398 Henry A. rides daily from Hans Place to Covent
Garden ; Edward Knight and his son arrive from Canterbury,
* c d not get Places the day before ’ ; 441 the Chelsea Coach
Visits (duration of): 118, 188, cf. 199, 284, 337
Work (i.e. needle &c. w.); 10, 50, 210; cross-stitch 247; dressing
dolls 81; glove-knitting 292 ; netting 344; notting 23, 57 ; patch-
work 286; rugs 177; sattin-stitch 249; spinning-wheel 285;
‘unpicking’ 217
References are to the pages .
V. AUTHORS, BOOKS, PLAYS
References are to the pages
Books and plays are in general indexed here under their author’s
names only ; but if the authorship of a book is unknown to the
reader, it may be found in the notes .
For Songs, see the notes, 274, 428
Artaxerxes (an opera translated
from Metastasio) : 884
Baretti, Joseph (1719-89):
Account of the Manners and
Customs of Italy (1768; the
second edition 1769 has an
Appendix added , in Answer to
Samuel Sharp , Esq.); Journey
from London to Genoa (1770):
185
Barrett, Eaton Stannard (1786-
1820): The Heroine , or Adven-
tures of a Fair Romance
Reader ( 1818): 876, 377
Barrow, Sir John (1764—1848):
editor of (Lord Macartney’s)
Journal of the Embassy to
China (1807): 294
Beattie, James (1735-1803): The
Hermit : 331, (?)428
Beazley, Samuel (1786—1851):
The Boarding House ; or, Five
Hours at Brighton (1811): 321,
338
Beehive (a musical farce attri-
buted to Millingen) : 321, 338
Bickerstaffe, Isaac (fl. c. 1735—
c. 1782): The Hypocrite (1768,
adapted from Cibber’s version
of Tartujfe): 275
Bigland, John (1750-1832) : per-
haps History of Spain (1810)
or System of Geography and
History (1812): 294; perhaps
Letters on the Modern History
and Political Aspect of Europe
(1804): 333
Boarding-School , The (?); 115
(note)
Boswell, James (1740—95): Jour-
nal of a Tour to the Hebrides
(1785) ; Life of Johnson (1791 ;
probably the second edition,
1793, published at 24s.): 32,
33, 49, 181 ; see also Johnson,
Brunton, Mary (1778-1818):
Self-Control: a Novel (1810):
278, 344, 423
Brydges, Sir Samuel Egerton
(1762-1837) : Arthur Fitz -
Albini: a Novel (1798) : 32, 67 ;
see also Index II,
Buchanan, Claudius (1766-
1815); perhaps Christian Re-
searches in Asia (1811), a very
popular book, or Apology for
Promoting Christianity in
India (1813): 292
Burney, Frances (1752—1840):
Evelina, or a Young Lady's
Entrance into the World (1778) :
‘written by Dr. Johnson’ 64;
quoted 180, 438 ; Lord Orville
References are to the pages.
V. Authors , Books , Plays
388 ; Cecilia, or Memoirs of an
Heiress (5 vols. 1782): 254;
Camilla, or a Picture of Youth
(5 vols. 1796): 9, 13, 14; The
Wanderer, or Female Difficul-
ties (5 vols. 1814): 334
Burney, Sarah Harriet (1770 ?-
1844): Clarentine; a Novel
(1798): 180
Byron, Lord (1788-1824): The
Corsair (1814): 379
Carr, Sir John (1772-1832):
Descriptive Travels in the
Southern and Eastern Parts of
Spain and the Balearic Isles, in
the year 1809 (1811) : 292
Clarke, James Stanier (1765?-
1834): Life of James II (1816;
there seems to have been no
second edition) : 444, 445 ; see
also Index II.
Clarkson, Thomas (1760-1846):
perhaps Abolition of the Afri-
can Slave Trade (1808), or
more probably Life of William
Penn (1813, reviewed by
Jeffrey in the July Edinburgh) :
292
Coffey, Charles (d. 1745): The
Devil to Pay (1731; Covent
Garden, March 1814): 384
Colman, George, the elder (1732-
94) : The Clandestine Marriage
(with Garrick, 1766; Covent ,
Garden, Sept. 1813): 321, 323,
338
Combe, William (1741-1823):
The Tour of Dr. Syntax in
Search of the Picturesque (1812):
378
Cooke, Mrs. (see Index II): i
Batlleridge, an historical tale
founded on facts. By a lady
of quality. (Cawthorn, 1799):
24
Cooper, Edward (see also Index
II) : Examination of the Neces-
sity of Sunday-drilling (1803);
Sermons, chiefly designed to
elucidate , . . Doctrines (1804);
Practical and Familiar Ser-
mons; designed for parochial
and domestic Instruction (1809);
Two Sermons preached at
Wolverhampton (1816): 252.
255, 467
Cowley, Hannah (1743-1809) :
Which is the Man ? a Comedy
(1783): 469
Cowper, William (1731-1800):
read aloud, 39 ; ‘ Syringa, iv’ry
pure’, 178; Verses on Alexan-
der Selkirk, 335; ‘tame hares
and blank verse’, 368
Crabbe, George (1754-1832): The
Borough (1810) ; Tales (1812):
319, 323 note, 358 note, 370
(for Mrs. C. see Index II)
d’Arblay, Madame: see Burney
Defoe, Daniel (1661?-1731):
Robinson Crusoe (1719): 143
de Genlis, Madame (1746-1830):
Les Veillees du Chdleau (1784),
translated as Tales of the
Castle (? 1785), contains as one
of its parts Olympe et TMo-
phile, translated as Theophilus
and Olympia; or the Errours of
Youth and Age; Alphonsine,
ou la Tendresse maternelle
%
(180G), translated as Alphon-
sine: or Maternal Affection
References are to the pages .
V, Authors , Books, Plays
(second edition 1807) • 82, 178,
450
de S6vign6, Mme (1626-96):
Lettres (1726 ; in English 1758) :
871
de Stael, Mme (1760-1817):
Corinne, ou V Italia (1807) j two
translations into English pub-
lished in 1807: 242 i
Dibdin, Charles (1745-1814):
The Farmer's Wife (Covent
Garden, Feb. 1814): 884, 885
Dodsley, Robert (1703-64) : A
Collection of Poems in Six
Volumes by Several Hands
(1758) : 133
Don Juan, or the Libertine Des-
troyed (1792, a pantomime
founded on Shadwell’s Liber-
tine): 821, 338
J. A. was probably acquainted
with Caleb W'llliams (1794)
and St. Leon (1799): 183
Grant, Mrs. Anne (1755-1838),
of Laggan: Letters from the
Mountains, being the real
correspondence of a Lady, be-
tween the years 1773 and 1807
(1807) ; Memoirs of an Ameri-
can Lady (Catalina Schuyler)
(1808) : 184, 248, 292, 294, 305
Hamilton, Elizabeth (1758-
1816) : J. A. had probably read
The Cottagers of Glenbumie
(1808) and ‘respectable’ sug-
gests knowledge of Popular
Essays on the Elementary
Principles of the Human Mind
(1812), at least of the reputa-
tion of that and similar works :
Edgeworth, Maria (1767-1849):
probably Tales from Fashion-
able life (second series, 1812) :
305; Patronage (1814): 398;
J. A.’s fondness for her novels,
405
Fielding, Henry (1707-54): Tom
Jones (1749): 8
Garrick, David (1717—79) ,
Isabella, or the Fatal Marriage
> (1776 ; a tragedy adapted
from Southerne’s Fatal Mar-
riage) : 414, 415, 417
Gisborne, Thomas (1758-1846):
probably An Enquiry into the
Duties of the Female Sex
(1797): 169
Godwin, William (1756—1836) .
Hawkins, Laetitia Matilda
(1760-1835): Rosanne; or a
Father's Labour Lost (1814):
4,22
Henry, Robert (1718-90): His-
tory of Great Britain (1771—
93) : 89 (note)
Homer: 256
Hook: perhaps James H. (1746-
1827), Guida di Mutica, being
a complete book of instruction
far the Harpsichord or Piano-
forte (1790 ; new edition 1810) :
328
Hunter, Mrs. Rachel, of Norwich
(1754-1813): ?161 (note), 406
(note)
lUusion, or the Trances of Nour-
jahad (‘a melodramatic spec-
References are to the pages •
V. Authors , Books , Plays
recent publication’, no doubt
taele’, Genest : Druiy Lane
Nov. 1813): 380
Jefferson: probably William J.:
Entertaining Literary Curiosi-
ties (1808): 191 (note), 199
Jenner, Edward (1749-1823):
pamphlets on cow-pox, 1798-
1800 ; a second edition of the
original Inquiry was dedicated
to the King in 1800: 93
Johnson, Samuel (1709-84):
Evelina written by him, 64;
‘my dear Dr. Johnson’, 181
(note); ‘full tide of human
existence at Charing Cross’,
368 (note); ‘talk from books’,
362 (note) ; see Boswell, Piozzi
Lathom, Francis (1777-1832):
The Midnight Bell , a German
Story, Founded on Incidents in
Real Life (1798): 21
Lennox, Charlotte (1720-1804):
The Female Quixote; or, the
Adventures of Arabella (1752):
173
Macartney, Lord (1737-1806):
see Barrow
Mackenzie: probably Sir George
SteuartM. (1780-1848): Travels
in Iceland (1811): 294
Metastasio : see Artaxerxes
Milton (1608—74): 353; ‘would
have given his eyes to have
thought of it ’ 402
Molifcre : Tartuffe, ou Vlmposteur
(1664): 275
More, Hannah (1745-1833): Cce-
lebs in Search of a Wife (1809):
256, 259; ‘Mrs. H. More’s
Practical Piety (1811): 287
Nourjahad, see Illusion
O’Hara, Kane (1714 ?— 82) :
Midas: an English Burletta
(1764, and often revived) : 321,
338
Ovid : 256
Owenson, Sydney, Lady Morgan
(1783 ?-1859): The Wild Irish
Girl (1806), Woman, or Ida of
Athens (1809): 251
Pasley, Sir Charles William, R.E.
(1780-1861): Essay on the
Military Policy and Institu-
tions of the British Empire
(1810): 292 (note), 294, 304
Percival, Thomas (1740-1804),
M.D., of Manchester: A
F other's Instructions; consisting
of Moral Tales , Fables, and
Reflections, designed to promote
the Love of Virtue (1768): 219
Piozzi, Hester Lynch (1741-
1831, Dr. Johnson’s Mrs.
Thrale) : Letters to and from the
late Samuel Johnson (1788):
imitated 66, quoted (i. 270)
235
Pope, Alexander (1688-1744):
Essay on Man (1733): 362
(note)
Porter, Anna Maria (1780-1832):
Lake of Killarney (1804): 228
Quarterly Review (first published
Feb. 1809) : 453
Radcliffe, Ann (1764-1828): 377
References are to the pages.
V. Authors, Books, Plays
Richardson, Samuel (1689—1701)
Sir Charles Grandison (1753):
322, 844
Saunders: 157 (note)
Scott, Sir Walter (1771-1832):
The Lay of the Last Minstrel
(1805) 274 (note); Marmion
(1808) 107, 248, parodied 298 ;
The Lady of the Lake (1810)
290; ‘a critique on Walter
Scott’ 300 ; ‘has no business to
write novels’, i*e. Waverley
(1814) 404; 'The Field of
Waterloo (1815) 431, 432;
‘Scott’s account of Paris’, i.e.
Paul's Letters Jo his Kinsfolk
(Murray, 1815) 432, 433 ;
The Antiquary (1816) 468;
review of Emma 453
Shakespeare: 1 Henry IV, 95;
Hamlet, King John, Macbeth,
271; King John, 275; Mer-
chant of Venice, 290, 377, 381 ;
Richard 111 (Covent Garden,
March 1814), 386
Sharp, Samuel ( 1700 ?-1778) :
Letters from Italy (1766) ; sec
Baretti
Sherlock, Thomas (1673-1761):
Several Discourses preached at
the Temple Church (1754-97 ;
new edition, Oxford 1812)*
406
Smith, James (1775-1839) and
Horatio (1779-1849): Rejected
Addresses: or the new Thealrum
Poetarum (1812): 292-4
Southey, Robert (1774-1848):
Letters from England ; by Dom
Manuel Alvarez Espriella
(1807) 212; Life of Nelson
(1813) 345; The Poets Pil-
grimage to Waterloo (1816) 476
(note)
Sterne, Laurence (1713-68):
Tristram Shandy (1760-5):
140
Swift, Jonathan (1667—1745):
Gulliver's Travels (1726): 70
Sykes, Mrs. S.: Margiana , or
Widdrington Fair (1808): 248
Virgil: 256
West, Mrs. Jane (1758-1852),
author of ‘novels of good
moral tone’ (D.A r .B*): 466;
Alicia de Lacy , an Historical
Romance (1814): 405
Williams, Helen Maria (1762-
1827): A Narrative of the
Events which have lately taken
place in France (1815): 433
References are to the pages .
X X
VI. JANE AUSTEN’S NOVELS
References are to the pages
SJENSB AND SENSIBILITY (published on commission by Egerton
t ° V ;. 1811 ' 3 , voIs ‘> 15s ‘ Second edition Nov. 1813): J. A.’s
Hen^ 1 a f nection of P™ofs, sent by the printer to
Heniy A. 273 ; the Incomes’ 273, see note; ‘my Elinor’ 278;
magmes S.S. to be longer than P. P. 298 ; first edition sold out
and brings £140 317 ; J. A. retains the copyright 317, 425 ; a copy
sent, or not sent, to Warren Hastings (?) 323, see note; second
edition contemplated 341 ; prospects of sale 346 ; advertised 866 *
payment for printing 368 ; published 372, see note
RIDE AND PREJUDICE (sold to Egerton Nov. 1812 for £110,
Cd Jan * 1813, 3 vols, > 18s - Second (1818) and
third (1817) editions not mentioned by J. A., see 372 and note).
™ {y^ons (the original draft) read by Cassandra (before
. 5 ^’J by Martha Lloyd 67 ; the first copy, ‘my own darling
child 297; copies for the family 297 ; advertisement and price
97; read at Chawton 297; Elizabeth ‘as delightful a creature
as ever appeared in print’ 297; typical errors 297; ‘lop’t and
crop’t’, imagined shorter than S.S. 298; ‘fits of disgust’, self-
criticism 299; ‘playfulness and epigrammatism of the general
style’ 300 ; anonymity 300 ; ‘the greatest blunder in the printing’
300 ; ‘suppers at Longboum’ 300 ; Fanny Knight’s admiration of
Darcy and Elizabeth, ‘she might hate all the others if she would’
803; ‘portrait of Mrs. Bingley’ at the Exhibition 309, 810; but
none of Mrs. Darcy 309, 310 ; the secret gets out, ‘if I am a wild
Beast, I cannot help it’ 311 ; conjectures — ‘the sort of letter that
Miss D. would write’ and Darcy’s reason for not allowing his
wife s portrait to be exposed to the public eye’ 312; reputation
of P.P. to sell M.P. 317 ; Henry A. betrays the secret of authorship
320; J. A. ‘trying to harden’ herself 340; praised by Warren
Hastings 320; his admiration of Elizabeth 324; Dr. Isham’s
admiration 334 ; imitation by Anna A. 894 ; Mr. Haden prefers
M.P. 437 ; J. A. fears Emma will be thought ‘inferior in wit ’ 443
(Possible origin of the episode of Darcy at the ball 43, note)
MANSFIELD PARK (published on commission by Egerton, May
1814. 3 vols., 18s. Second edition published by John Murray
1816). No Government House at Gibraltar 292; ‘agreeable set’
for the round table at Mrs. Grants’ 294; ‘a complete change of
subject [i.e. from that of P.P.] — ordination* 298; Cassandra’s
References are to the pages.
VI. Jane Austen's Novels
enquiries 208 note; uses the nameB of Frank A.’s ships 817, 840;
read by Henry A. 876 note, 878, 881, 886 (‘the most entertaining
part* 876; H. A. ‘foresees how it will all be’ 876; ‘admires H.
Crawford: I mean properly’ 378; ‘has changed his mind as to
foreseeing the end’ 381 ; admires the conclusion 886); treatment
of the clergy approved by Mr. Cooke 889 ; Fanny Price 391 ; the
private theatricals imitated by Anna A. 395 ; first edition sold out,
a second contemplated 411 ; mentioned 413 ; second edition doubt-
ful 419 ; opinions of M.P. 423 ; copyright of 425 ; Mr. Clarke’s
admiration 430, Mr. Haden’s 437 ; J. A. fears Emma will be thought
‘inferior in good sense’ 443; sends a corrected copy to John
Murray for a second edition 446 ; regrets its 4 total omission ’ by
the Quarterly reviewer 453
(Original of Fanny Price’s amber cross 137 ; possible hint for the
circumstances of Maria Rushworth’s elopement 197 note)
EMMA (published by John Murray Dec. 1815, dated 1816. 3 vols.,
21s.). Negotiations with Murray, ‘a rogue of course’ 425, 431 ;
correspondence with Mr. Clarke about the dedication to the Prince
Regent 429 ; delays in printing 433 ; the three volumes printing
concurrently, 436; ‘the Printer’s boys bring and carry’ 435, 436;
twelve presentation copies 439 $ early copy for the P.R. 442 ; fears
it may be thought ‘inferior in wit’ to P.P. and ‘inferior in good
sense’ to M.P. 448 ; directions about the dedication and presenta-
tion copies 446, 447 ; Lady Morley’s copy 448 ; hopes she has not
yet ‘overwritten’ herself 449 ; lent to Anna Lefroy 449 ; Mr. Clarke
sends the P.R.’s thanks and ‘the just tribute of their praise’ from
‘many of the nobility’ 451 ; the ‘Quarterly’ review 453 ; the bind-
ing of the P.R.’s copy 441, 451, 453 ; Mrs. C. Cage’s praise 480
( J. A. said ‘ I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself
will much like’. Memoir (1926), p. 157)
(The late A. B. Walkley saw in Mrs. and Miss ‘Molly’ Milles of
Canterbury the original of Mrs. and Miss Bates.)
(Emma was ‘read’ for Murray by William Gifford, who offered
to ‘undertake the revision’ of ‘many little omissions’ and other
blemishes in the MS. Life 810. There is no indication that he read
the proofs ; but that J. A. had some communication from him
appears from the Plan of a Novel (Life 337).)
NORTHANGER ABBEY AND PERSUASION (published post-
humously by John Murray 1818. 4 vols., 24s.). Correspondence
1809 with Crosbie & Co. about the sale of Susan 263, 264; ‘Miss
Catherine is put upon the shelve for the present ’ 484 ; ‘a something
ready for Publication ’ 484 ; Fanny Knight ‘ may perhaps like the
Heroine, as she is almost too good for me’ 487
References are to the pages.
X X 2
VII. JANE AUSTEN’S ENGLISH
This list may be read with the list
and Sensibility , p. 388), and i
References a
about: 344 they are each a. a
rabbit net
account : 315 when all the cir-
cumstances , . . are taken into
the a,
aceustomary : 124 his a, eager
interest
affected : 332 Edward does not
seem well a.— he would rather
not be asked to go anywhere
altogether : 203 I really hope
Harriot is a. very happy
anti-english : 212
bavins : 390
beauty ; 58 He is a b. of my
mother’s
being : 152 your b. looking well
being that : 345 I am tired of
Lives of Nelson, b. that I
never read any
big: 121 Mrs. Dyson as usual
looked b.
booking : 177 I insist upon treat-
ing you with the B.
bore : 50 this complaint in my eye
has been a sad b. to me
boulangeries : 11
bring and carry : 435 the Printer’s
boys b. and c.
bring in : 233 requesting that he
will b. in Mr. Heathcote (cause
to be elected to Parliament)
call in: 279 Miss Payne called in
on Saturday
in my edition of the novels (Sense
subject to the same provisos.
i to the pages.
capital : 131 in climbing a hill
Mrs. C. is very c. ; 270 one of
the Hirelings is a C. on the
Harp ; 880, 494
carry', 74 left behind . . . the
drawing . . . which he had in-
tended to c. to George; 899
I must finish this (letter) and
c. it with me
chief : 332 I read him the c. of
your Letter ; 364
cleft : 287 c. wood
closet: 416 her bed-room and her
Drawers and her C.
collect : 461 I c. from her, that. . .
comparison * 104 as if Deane were
not near London in c. of
Exeter
country: 2 before he leaves the
c. (i.e. Hampshire), 403
course : 330 I consider it (chang-
ing one’s mind) as a thing of
c. at her time of Life
crop : 57 Charles being a c.
curious : 36 Lord Bolton is parti-
cularly c. in his pigs
daresay : 87 you will see the ac-
count in the Sun I d. ; 173,
281 bis, 384, 425 ; 497 may
you possess — as I d. you will —
the greatest blessing. (Always,
I think, a confident expression
of opinion)
deedily: 344
References are to the pages .
II*
VII. Jane Austen's English
direct : 114 you may d. to me
there ; 899 you need not d. it
(a parcel) to be left any where
direction : 187 remembering my
Uncle’s d. ; 141 ; 489 I want
to see how Canterbury looks in
the d. (also = instruction, 447)
discontentedness : 232
discourse : 178 a great deal of un-
reserved d. with Mrs. K.
disgust : 299 some fits of d. (when
reading Pride and Prejudice)',
408 There was a little disgust
I suspect, at the Races; cf.
844
division : 212 our Yarmouth D. ;
289 a d. of the proposed party ;
387 this d. of the Family
do: 880 she was doing about last
night ... a little after one
drank : 377 we have d. tea ; 391
dress: 319 dressing us a most
comfortable dinner
drink : 123 we drank tea as soon
as we arrived ; 391
engage : 285 from Monday to
Wednesday Anna is to be en-
gaged at Faringdon; 425 we
are engaged tomorrow to
Cleveland Row; 476 engaged
to two or three houses
epigrammatism : 300
event: 241 such being the e. of
the first pot; 258 I wish her
happy at all events ( = in any
event, cf. 47)
evil : 232 looks about ... for
Inconvenience and E. ; 297
the only e. is the delay
except: 185 e. William should
send her word
fall : 57 conceal it from him
lest it might f. on his spirits ;
332 he does not in general f.
within a doubtful Intention
fee : 194 a letter . . . containing
the usual F. ; 801 I did not
forget Henry’s f. to Thomas
/eel: 298 your miserable feeling
feet
felicity : 247 the letter • . • was
. . . like those which had pre-
ceded it, as to the f. of its
writer; 285 Volunteers and
Felicities of all kinds
fencibles: 181
finish: 177 help them in their
finishing purchases
fly : 238 my Expectations for my
Mother do not rise with this
Event. We will allow a little
more time, however, before we
f. out (in indignation)
genius : 142 I do not perceive wit
or g., but she has sense and
some degree of taste
give : 372 (Sense and Sensibility)
was very much admired at
Cheltenham, and . . . was given
to Miss Hamilton (i.e. as
author)
govern : 278 hard at it, governing
away (acting as governess ;
perhaps a jocular formation)
great : 228 one of our g. chairs
half: 122 h. after seven; 205;
217 an hour and half
, high : 218 the interior of her High
Drawers ( = tallboy)
hither: 496 my Journey fa. on
Saturday, cf. 8 Godmersham,
References are to the pages .
VII. Jane a
whither Edward and Elizabeth
are to remove ... in October :
365 thither
honey : 339 she is a poor H. — the
sort of woman who gives me
the idea of being determined
never to be well ; 491 I am a
poor H. at present
hotel-master : 192
ill : 292 a very ill-looking man
improvements : 76 our I. have
advanced very well; — the
Bank along the Elm Walk is
sloped down for the reception
of Thoms and Lilacs ...
(technical of landscape garden-
ing)
incessantly : 170 of your visitthere
I must now speak ‘incessantly’
(a quotation?); cf. Fr. inces-
samment
instrument'. 416 she is to have
an I.
keep’. 301 Thomas was married
on Saturday, the wedding was
kept at Neatham ; 304 by
keeping house ever since , it (my
cold) is almost gone
kitchen : 397 there were 4 in the
K. part of Yalden (the coach)
lay : 35 to 1. in ; 305 it can make
no difference to her , which of
the 26 fortnights in the year
the 3 vols. lay in her house
lay down* 29 ever since we laid
down the carriage
lay out : 501 laying out Edward’s
money for the Poor
'Aten's English
lesson: 274 Lessons on the Harp
(not instructional)
like: 73 pray will you send me
another printed letter ... if
you 1. it ; 305 kill .. . Mrs.
Sclaterifyoul.it; 385
liquor: 275 in 1.
little : 435 for fear you should be
distressed for 1. Money
long: 113 hopes ... to see you
before it is 1.
look: 82 (a table) holds a great
deal . . . without looking
awkwardly
looks: 127 wearing my new bon-
net and being in good looks
make : 203 Harriot is very earnest
with Edward to m. Wrotham
in his Journey (this is like a
common American use) ; 42
I really think he will soon be
made, 47 Frank is made ; 284
I shall m. the invitation di-
rectly ; 204 m. our kind Love
and Congratulations to her;
299 m. her best thanks etc. to
Miss Lloyd; 212 she does not
doubt your making out the
Star pattern very well— I
think this means accomplish,
not understand, cf. 360 we were
obliged to saunter about ... to
m. out the time (fill in, put in)
manager: 344 M. of the Lodge
Hounds
mercantile: 348 a great rich m.
Sir Robert Wigram (Lord
Brabourne’s edition has a
comma after mercantile, which
misled O.E.D.; there is no
comma in the MS.)
References are to the pages.
VII. Jane Austen's English
mortar: 487 (obscure* see the
context)
neck : 185 not more than you
like of Miss Hatton’s n.
nice : 191, 200, 217 she is a n.
Woman (the modern sense,
pilloried by Henry Tilney)
nidgetty : 87 my Cap . * . was too
nidgetty to please me
noonskine: 195
open: 432 supposing you have any
set already opened (of a book
opened with a paper-knife)
over-right: 266 to fancy them
just o. us (verse)
overturn: 49
Oxford: 32 O. smack (not ex-
plained)
parlour: 301 Breakfast p., 337
an excellent Dining and com-
mon sitting p. (J. A. I think
always writes drawing-room ,
dining-parlour )
‘participle’: 178 our Dressing-
Table is constructing on the
spot; 226 their (clothes) are
making here; 276 the Tea is
this moment setting out
particular : 359 your . . . Letter
. . . was quite as long and as p.
as I could expect
particularity: 180 the p. of this
made us talk (see the context ;
the visitor’s behaviour was
regarded as pointed, or per-
haps merely as odd)
perfect : 91 being p. indifferent
pewter : 420 tho’ I like praise . . .
I like what Edward (a young
man) calls P. too
physic : 159 taking p.
place: 171 placing my silence to
the want of subject
private: 316 any other p. Man
in the United Kingdom
prospective : 62 a p. view of the
left side of Brock Street
put forward: 159 I could not
help putting f. to invite them
regale : 846 Fanny and I regale on
them (Tomatas) every day
regard: 207 I do not at all r.
Martha’s disappointment
remedy: 185 (see note)
Richard Snow : 382
scheme: 360 our Canterbury s.
took place as proposed; 205
our s. to Beaulieu
sensible: 306 this wet morning
makes one more s. of it (the
weather of the day before)
set down : 191 desires to have his
name set down for a guinea
sim : 499 the sim of it (= seem ,
i.e. appearance)
sit down: 2 dancing and sitting
down together (the modern
sit out)
situation : 242 as.... which bids
very fair for comfort. . • • she
comes to board and lodge with
Mrs. Hookey
solicit : 342 they are not solicited
till after Edward’s return (in-
vited)
solicitude : 220 grief and s.; 262
there is no entering much into
the solicitudes of that family ;
References are to the pages .
VII. Jane Austen's English
345 a narrow door to the
Pantry is the only subject of s.
stationer: 433 the Printers have
been waiting for Paper — the
blame is thrown upon the S.
stout: 10 Louisa’s figure is very
much improved; she is as s.
again as she was ; 20 seems
quite s. j 36 seems to cook
very well, is uncommonly s M
111 my mother has been
• • * >
quite s* ; 156 not feeling quite
s. ; 363 ; 419 ; 494 (perhaps
never = fat ; but see 158)
supersede : 52 Charles never came
... I suppose he could not get
superseded in time
talking : 363 friendly and t. and
pleasant as usual
talobert: 57 the t. skin (family
nonsense?)
thinking : 382 such t., clear, eon-
too : 380 too much tired
tough: 129 the three old Toughs
try for: 162 Harriot cannot be
insincere, let her try for it
ever so much
turn off: 365 a delightful morn-
ing . , * but the Day turned
off • ♦ . and we came home in
• • . rain
typical : 297 a few t. errors
(typographical)
willow : 377, 398, see note
wish : 244 I w. this (letter) may
not have the same deficiency ;
300 I w. it may be the means
of saving you
within : 158 Lady Leven was not
w. ; 162 your mittens . . * were
folded up w. my clean night-
cap ; 304 by staying w.
worthy : 338 no Actor w* naming
have written
throw at : 349 Dr. Parry’s opinion
• • • throws their coming away
at a greater Uncertainty than
we had supposed
y ester: 142 yesterday morning
(ought it not in strict propriety
to be termed yester-morning ?)
— cf. 139 last evening (avoid-
ing yesterday evening ?)
Ref erences are to the pages
ADDENDUM
strength : 172 the s. of our dinner
VIII. SHIPS
p e= Francis, C = Charles. For further information see Hubback,
Jane Austen's Sailor Brothers .
Ambuscade 149; Caledonia (F)
270; Camilla 152; Cleopatra
(C) 275; Elephant (F) 313,
330 ; Endymion (C) 58, 80, 87,
113, 120, 134, 137; Excellent
33; Expedition 153; Haarlem
112; Leopard (F) 143, 145;
London (F) 38, 42; Mercury
95 ; Namur (C) 304, 354, 360 ;
Neptune 260 ; Petterel (F) 47,
78, 87, 112, 120; St. Albans
(F) 196, 206, 207, 208, 226,
246 ; Scorpion (C), 42 ; Tamer
(ar) (C) 47, 54, 58 ; Triton (F)
17, 18 ; Urania 152
Pyramus 504
References are to the pages.
ADDENDA INDEX II
The identifications, &c., following are drawn from an article by
Mr. C. S. Emden in Oriel Record 1950:
Nibbs. Probably George N., whose father and J. A.’s were at St.
John’s together. G. N. was perhaps a pupil. See East.
East. Sir William’s son was a pupil at Steventon. Mr. Emden
conjectures that J. A. names the pictures (see Nibbs above) from
their (conjectured) donors.
Mascall. Robert Curteis M., of Oriel.
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